The points of issue
First printing has First Edition on the copyright page together with the Harper month-year letter code K-Z (K equals October, Z equals the year 1925). Cloth stamped in orange; first-issue dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Constable edition (1927). The First Edition statement plus the K-Z code identifies the first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club issue for the first. Later printings carry a different month-year code pair on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Manhattan Transfer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has First Edition on the copyright page together with the Harper month-year letter code K-Z (K equals October, Z equals the year 1925). Cloth stamped in orange; first-issue 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. True US first; precedes the UK Constable edition (1927). The First Edition statement plus the K-Z code identifies the first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club issue for the first. Later printings carry a different month-year code pair on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Manhattan Transfer — 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.