The points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page; brown cloth with a facsimile author signature in gilt on the front board; first-issue dust jacket (designed by Paul Bacon) carries the printed price. A special presentation edition, bound in black cloth and issued without dust jacket or slipcase "for the friends of the author and publisher," precedes the trade issue.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House printing is the true first; the UK Macmillan edition (1980) follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions are smaller, lack the printed jacket price, and may carry a blind stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Loon Lake a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page; brown cloth with a facsimile author signature in gilt on the front board; first-issue dust jacket (designed by Paul Bacon) carries the printed price. A special presentation edition, bound in black cloth and issued without dust jacket or slipcase "for the friends of the author and publisher," precedes the trade issue.
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 Random House printing is the true first; the UK Macmillan edition (1980) follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions are smaller, lack the printed jacket price, and may carry a blind stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Loon Lake — 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.