The points of issue
Crown first printing: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with the descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (the 1 present). First-issue cloth binding with the dust jacket carrying the printed retail price.
Is this the true first?
The US Crown 1996 edition is the true first. Both the stated 'First Edition' line and the full number line ending in 1 confirm the first printing. Winner of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the stated 'First Edition' line and the number line; many carry a rear-board blind-stamp and an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Crown first printing: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with the descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (the 1 present). First-issue cloth binding with the dust jacket carrying the printed retail price.
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 US Crown 1996 edition is the true first. Both the stated 'First Edition' line and the full number line ending in 1 confirm the first printing. Winner of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issues lack the stated 'First Edition' line and the number line; many carry a rear-board blind-stamp and an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer — 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.