The points of issue
Trade first issue has First Printing stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indication. Issued in cloth with a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original unclipped price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Random House, 1969); a UK edition followed from Hodder & Stoughton in 1970. A signed, numbered limited issue (approximately 200 copies) preceded or accompanied the trade printing and is the true first issue for collectors who distinguish the two.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club edition exists and lacks the price on the jacket flap.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lovey Childs: A Philadelphian's Story a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Trade first issue has First Printing stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indication. Issued in cloth with a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original unclipped 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 edition (Random House, 1969); a UK edition followed from Hodder & Stoughton in 1970. A signed, numbered limited issue (approximately 200 copies) preceded or accompanied the trade printing and is the true first issue for collectors who distinguish the two.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book club edition exists and lacks the price on the jacket flap.
I have a first edition of Lovey Childs: A Philadelphian's Story — 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.