The points of issue
Essay/memoir in three parts. Hardcover in boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in dust jacket. First printing carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape edition (2013) is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A. Knopf edition (also 2013).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions adjust the number line or add an impression statement on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Levels of Life a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Essay/memoir in three parts. Hardcover in boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in dust jacket. First printing carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
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. The UK Jonathan Cape edition (2013) is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A. Knopf edition (also 2013).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions adjust the number line or add an impression statement on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Levels of Life — 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.