The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Random House/Villard number line whose lowest figure is '2' (does not descend to 1). ISBN 0-679-42850-X; first-issue jacket carries the printed price unclipped, with the 'magic bus' photograph.
Is this the true first?
US Villard is the true first, preceding the UK (Macmillan) edition. A scarcer and more sought first than Into Thin Air owing to a smaller first printing; signed copies are prized.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price, may carry a rear-board blindstamp, and omit the stated 'First Edition'. The 'First Edition' line, the Villard line stopping at '2', and the priced jacket identify the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Into the Wild a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Random House/Villard number line whose lowest figure is '2' (does not descend to 1). ISBN 0-679-42850-X; first-issue jacket carries the printed price unclipped, with the 'magic bus' photograph.
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 Villard is the true first, preceding the UK (Macmillan) edition. A scarcer and more sought first than Into Thin Air owing to a smaller first printing; signed copies are prized.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price, may carry a rear-board blindstamp, and omit the stated 'First Edition'. The 'First Edition' line, the Villard line stopping at '2', and the priced jacket identify the trade first.
I have a first edition of Into the Wild — 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.