The points of issue
First printing has 1929 on both the title page and the copyright page, no mention of any prize anywhere in the book, and the Riverside Press pan-and-dolphin colophon printed in red rather than black. Decorated cloth with a rust-red top stain, in a first-issue jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Houghton Mifflin 1929 is the true first edition. Some copies carry a laid-in author signature or an inscription, but these are signed trade copies, not a distinct limited issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Grosset & Dunlap reprints and later Houghton Mifflin printings are clearly marked; later printings also reference the Pulitzer Prize. No major book-club edition concern.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Laughing Boy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 1929 on both the title page and the copyright page, no mention of any prize anywhere in the book, and the Riverside Press pan-and-dolphin colophon printed in red rather than black. Decorated cloth with a rust-red top stain, in a first-issue jacket.
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 Houghton Mifflin 1929 is the true first edition. Some copies carry a laid-in author signature or an inscription, but these are signed trade copies, not a distinct limited issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Grosset & Dunlap reprints and later Houghton Mifflin printings are clearly marked; later printings also reference the Pulitzer Prize. No major book-club edition concern.
I have a first edition of Laughing Boy — 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.