The points of issue
US Arbor House first edition, 1983; first printing has the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Black half cloth over red paper-covered boards, gilt spine lettering; grey-and-red dust jacket, first issue with the printed price intact on the front flap. 283 pp.
Is this the true first?
US Arbor House (1983) is the true first; won the 1984 Edgar Award for Best Novel. UK Viking edition (1984) follows. Distinct from the separately listed Get Shorty and The Big Bounce.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition is distinguished chiefly by the absence of a price on the jacket front flap; it also lacks the full number line to 1 and is on lighter bulked paper, often with a blind-stamped dot on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of LaBrava a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Arbor House first edition, 1983; first printing has the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Black half cloth over red paper-covered boards, gilt spine lettering; grey-and-red dust jacket, first issue with the printed price intact on the front flap. 283 pp.
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 Arbor House (1983) is the true first; won the 1984 Edgar Award for Best Novel. UK Viking edition (1984) follows. Distinct from the separately listed Get Shorty and The Big Bounce.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition is distinguished chiefly by the absence of a price on the jacket front flap; it also lacks the full number line to 1 and is on lighter bulked paper, often with a blind-stamped dot on the rear board.
I have a first edition of LaBrava — 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.