The points of issue
US first published under the Lee Boudreaux Books imprint of Little, Brown. The first printing has the copyright-page edition statement and a full descending number line that includes the 1. Blue paper spine over blue paper-covered boards; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. Published July 2017, before the 2018 Pulitzer.
Is this the true first?
US Lee Boudreaux Books / Little, Brown 2017 is the true first; confirm via the stated edition and the number line that retains the 1.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line. No separate book-club edition is reliably documented for the first issue; treat any blind-stamped rear board with caution and verify against the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Less a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US first published under the Lee Boudreaux Books imprint of Little, Brown. The first printing has the copyright-page edition statement and a full descending number line that includes the 1. Blue paper spine over blue paper-covered boards; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. Published July 2017, before the 2018 Pulitzer.
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 Lee Boudreaux Books / Little, Brown 2017 is the true first; confirm via the stated edition and the number line that retains the 1.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line. No separate book-club edition is reliably documented for the first issue; treat any blind-stamped rear board with caution and verify against the number line.
I have a first edition of Less — 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.