The points of issue
Harper & Row first, 1978; copyright page stated 'FIRST EDITION' with the Harper number line ending in 1; first-issue dust jacket priced.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row edition (1978) is the true first. Third Leaphorn novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price and the full number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Listening Woman a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harper & Row first, 1978; copyright page stated 'FIRST EDITION' with the Harper number line ending in 1; first-issue dust jacket priced.
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 US Harper & Row edition (1978) is the true first. Third Leaphorn novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price and the full number line.
I have a first edition of Listening Woman — 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.