The points of issue
Copyright page identifies the first printing by Little, Brown's stated-edition wording and dating code rather than a 1-to-10 number line; published Boston/Toronto, 644 pp. A separate signed limited edition (a special binding of roughly 1,500 copies) was also issued.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown edition is the true first; the UK edition followed from Collins in 1985.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions are common and lack the publisher's dating code.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Inside, Outside a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page identifies the first printing by Little, Brown's stated-edition wording and dating code rather than a 1-to-10 number line; published Boston/Toronto, 644 pp. A separate signed limited edition (a special binding of roughly 1,500 copies) was also issued.
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 Little, Brown edition is the true first; the UK edition followed from Collins in 1985.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions are common and lack the publisher's dating code.
I have a first edition of Inside, Outside — 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.