The points of issue
First edition, first printing in original cloth (octavo). The copyright page carries no later-printing notation; subsequent printings are so noted. First-issue dust jacket is priced on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Dial Press is the true first; the UK edition (Hamish Hamilton) follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are identified by printing notations on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Love in a Dry Season a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing in original cloth (octavo). The copyright page carries no later-printing notation; subsequent printings are so noted. First-issue dust jacket is priced 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 Dial Press is the true first; the UK edition (Hamish Hamilton) follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings are identified by printing notations on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Love in a Dry Season — 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.