The points of issue
First printing identified by a full number line including 1 and a priced dust jacket. Issued in publisher's cloth (ISBN 0684818418).
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1996 Simon & Schuster edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of John's Wife a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by a full number line including 1 and a priced dust jacket. Issued in publisher's cloth (ISBN 0684818418).
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 1996 Simon & Schuster edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of John's Wife — 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.