The points of issue
Copyright page reads First Edition: September 1984 with a full descending number line ending in 1. First-issue jacket is unclipped with the original printed price. Quarter cloth over paper boards with spine lettering.
Is this the true first?
The U.S. Del Rey/Ballantine hardcover of 1984 is the true first edition. A signed limited edition was also issued, comprising 750 numbered copies plus 26 lettered copies; that limited is distinct from the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and the stated First Edition / number line of the trade printing, and carries a blind stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Job: A Comedy of Justice a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page reads First Edition: September 1984 with a full descending number line ending in 1. First-issue jacket is unclipped with the original printed price. Quarter cloth over paper boards with spine lettering.
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. The U.S. Del Rey/Ballantine hardcover of 1984 is the true first edition. A signed limited edition was also issued, comprising 750 numbered copies plus 26 lettered copies; that limited is distinct from the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and the stated First Edition / number line of the trade printing, and carries a blind stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Job: A Comedy of Justice — 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.