The points of issue
FSG 'First printing, 1971' stated on the copyright page; black cloth with brown top-stain, orange endpapers, 403 pages; first-issue jacket carrying the original price of 7.95 with the bright orange/yellow/blue spine lettering.
Is this the true first?
US Farrar, Straus & Giroux is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Stated 'First printing, 1971' is present on the true first; the book-club edition lacks the flap price and is on lighter boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Love in the Ruins a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: FSG 'First printing, 1971' stated on the copyright page; black cloth with brown top-stain, orange endpapers, 403 pages; first-issue jacket carrying the original price of 7.95 with the bright orange/yellow/blue spine lettering.
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 Farrar, Straus & Giroux is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Stated 'First printing, 1971' is present on the true first; the book-club edition lacks the flap price and is on lighter boards.
I have a first edition of Love in the Ruins — 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.