The points of issue
Hardcover first edition, Bantam Books, July 1986, 358 pages. The true first shows the full number line 1 through 10 (ending in 1) on the copyright page and carries the original printed jacket price and Bantam hardcover jacket art.
Is this the true first?
By the mid-1980s L'Amour was published first in hardcover by Bantam, so the hardcover is the true first here, unlike his 1950s and 1960s paperback originals. Signed copies exist.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are typically smaller and lighter, lack the printed jacket price, and often show a blind-stamp on the rear board with no full number line. The trade first shows the complete number line including 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Last of the Breed a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover first edition, Bantam Books, July 1986, 358 pages. The true first shows the full number line 1 through 10 (ending in 1) on the copyright page and carries the original printed jacket price and Bantam hardcover jacket art.
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. By the mid-1980s L'Amour was published first in hardcover by Bantam, so the hardcover is the true first here, unlike his 1950s and 1960s paperback originals. Signed copies exist.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are typically smaller and lighter, lack the printed jacket price, and often show a blind-stamp on the rear board with no full number line. The trade first shows the complete number line including 1.
I have a first edition of Last of the Breed — 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.