The points of issue
First US edition states First Edition on the copyright page; Atheneum used the explicit First Edition statement (no number line) through the mid-1980s. Novel; original dark blue cloth with gilt spine and front-board lettering. First-issue jacket carries the original price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US first (Atheneum).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the First Edition statement, are printed on thinner bulk, typically carry a blind stamp to the lower rear board, and have a jacket with no flap price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Love and Work a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US edition states First Edition on the copyright page; Atheneum used the explicit First Edition statement (no number line) through the mid-1980s. Novel; original dark blue cloth with gilt spine and front-board lettering. First-issue jacket carries the original price on the front flap.
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 first (Atheneum).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the First Edition statement, are printed on thinner bulk, typically carry a blind stamp to the lower rear board, and have a jacket with no flap price.
I have a first edition of Love and Work — 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.