The points of issue
Copyright page states "First Edition" with a complete number line ending in 1; the dust jacket carries the printed retail price. A true first printing shows both the stated First Edition and the full number line retaining the 1.
Is this the true first?
US The Penguin Press printing of 2009 is the true first edition, published August 2009.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line or otherwise indicate a later printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Inherent Vice a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states "First Edition" with a complete number line ending in 1; the dust jacket carries the printed retail price. A true first printing shows both the stated First Edition and the full number line retaining the 1.
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. US The Penguin Press printing of 2009 is the true first edition, published August 2009.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line or otherwise indicate a later printing.
I have a first edition of Inherent Vice — 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.