The points of issue
Ticknor & Fields, New York, 1988. First-edition copies have blue paper-covered boards with a brown cloth spine, copper spine lettering, and illustrated endpapers. The first printing is identified by the printing statement on the copyright page with no later-printing indication; a true first carries the original unclipped dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Ticknor & Fields 1988 is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A licensed book-club edition is a separate printing without the publisher's printing statement, often blind-stamped on the rear board, with no price on the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mama Day a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ticknor & Fields, New York, 1988. First-edition copies have blue paper-covered boards with a brown cloth spine, copper spine lettering, and illustrated endpapers. The first printing is identified by the printing statement on the copyright page with no later-printing indication; a true first carries the original unclipped dust jacket.
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 Ticknor & Fields 1988 is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A licensed book-club edition is a separate printing without the publisher's printing statement, often blind-stamped on the rear board, with no price on the jacket.
I have a first edition of Mama Day — 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.