The points of issue
First Edition / First Printing stated on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; original price unclipped on the front jacket flap. ISBN 0-945575-61-0 (9780945575610). Brown's second novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Algonquin 1991 edition is the true first. Later adapted into the 2013 film.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings show a number line that does not end in 1; no notable book-club blind-stamp issue is associated with the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Joe a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Edition / First Printing stated on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; original price unclipped on the front jacket flap. ISBN 0-945575-61-0 (9780945575610). Brown's second novel.
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 US Algonquin 1991 edition is the true first. Later adapted into the 2013 film.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings show a number line that does not end in 1; no notable book-club blind-stamp issue is associated with the first.
I have a first edition of Joe — 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.