The points of issue
First edition, first printing: Villard, 1997, with 'FIRST EDITION' stated and the full number line '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (some copies). The notable point: the first printing contained an error — it misidentified/misattributed certain details corrected in later printings (the first state also has the original postscript before Krakauer's later additions). First-issue dust jacket priced (the printed price).
Is this the true first?
US Villard 1997 is the true first, preceding the UK Macmillan edition. The first printing precedes Krakauer's added postscript responding to Anatoli Boukreev's account (added in later printings/editions), making the true first textually distinct. Verify 'FIRST EDITION' and the number line.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the full number line and 'FIRST EDITION' statement, are on thinner paper, and carry unpriced jackets. Later printings add the postscript and reader's-guide material absent from the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Into Thin Air a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing: Villard, 1997, with 'FIRST EDITION' stated and the full number line '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (some copies). The notable point: the first printing contained an error — it misidentified/misattributed certain details corrected in later printings (the first state also has the original postscript before Krakauer's later additions). First-issue dust jacket priced (the printed price).
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 1997 is the true first, preceding the UK Macmillan edition. The first printing precedes Krakauer's added postscript responding to Anatoli Boukreev's account (added in later printings/editions), making the true first textually distinct. Verify 'FIRST EDITION' and the number line.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the full number line and 'FIRST EDITION' statement, are on thinner paper, and carry unpriced jackets. Later printings add the postscript and reader's-guide material absent from the first.
I have a first edition of Into Thin Air — 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.