The points of issue
First edition so stated on the copyright page (first printing statement present); full cloth binding with color endpapers; [x],276,[2] pp.; jacket art by Russell Chatham, unclipped with original price. First printing of 12,000 copies (Orr & Torrey bibliography A14.c).
Is this the true first?
US Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence, New York, 1979 is the true first (three-novella volume: Revenge, The Man Who Gave Up His Name, and Legends of the Fall). The UK first followed from Collins, 1980.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month and other book-club issues carry a blind-stamp to the rear board, lack the original jacket price, use a cheaper binding, and omit the stated-first-edition statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Legends of the Fall a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated on the copyright page (first printing statement present); full cloth binding with color endpapers; [x],276,[2] pp.; jacket art by Russell Chatham, unclipped with original price. First printing of 12,000 copies (Orr & Torrey bibliography A14.c).
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 Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence, New York, 1979 is the true first (three-novella volume: Revenge, The Man Who Gave Up His Name, and Legends of the Fall). The UK first followed from Collins, 1980.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-of-the-Month and other book-club issues carry a blind-stamp to the rear board, lack the original jacket price, use a cheaper binding, and omit the stated-first-edition statement.
I have a first edition of Legends of the Fall — 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.