The points of issue
Stated first edition on the copyright page, issued in cloth hardcover with dust jacket and printed price (large octavo, 265 pages).
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1990 Grove Weidenfeld (US) hardcover. The UK Pandora edition also appeared in 1990.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of In Memoriam to Identity a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Stated first edition on the copyright page, issued in cloth hardcover with dust jacket and printed price (large octavo, 265 pages).
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. True first is the 1990 Grove Weidenfeld (US) hardcover. The UK Pandora edition also appeared in 1990.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of In Memoriam to Identity — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.