The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full number line to 1; black cloth spine over blue boards with gilt spine lettering; dust jacket designed by Honi Werner with the printed price intact. Erdrich's debut novel in its original 1984 text, before the expanded 1993 edition.
Is this the true first?
The 1984 Holt, Rinehart and Winston first is the true first; the 1993 'new and expanded edition' (HarperCollins) is a 'first thus,' not the true first. The US edition precedes the UK.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club trap; the key pitfall is confusing the 1993 expanded edition with the 1984 first — confirm the Holt, Rinehart and Winston imprint and the 1984 date with a number line to 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Love Medicine a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full number line to 1; black cloth spine over blue boards with gilt spine lettering; dust jacket designed by Honi Werner with the printed price intact. Erdrich's debut novel in its original 1984 text, before the expanded 1993 edition.
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 1984 Holt, Rinehart and Winston first is the true first; the 1993 'new and expanded edition' (HarperCollins) is a 'first thus,' not the true first. The US edition precedes the UK.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club trap; the key pitfall is confusing the 1993 expanded edition with the 1984 first — confirm the Holt, Rinehart and Winston imprint and the 1984 date with a number line to 1.
I have a first edition of Love Medicine — 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.