The points of issue
First edition so stated with number line descending to 1; dust jacket priced. Hardcover (ISBN 0689120729).
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1993 Atheneum (New York) hardcover. The Penguin paperback is a later reprint.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Japanese by Spring a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated with number line descending to 1; dust jacket priced. Hardcover (ISBN 0689120729).
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 1993 Atheneum (New York) hardcover. The Penguin paperback is a later reprint.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Japanese by Spring — 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.