The points of issue
First Edition stated on the copyright page with no reference to a later printing (Knopf used the statement rather than a number line for this title); Borzoi/Knopf (New York) imprint; yellow cloth spine over beige boards, map endpapers; first-issue dust jacket priced on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover of 1991 is the true first edition. It won the 1991 National Book Award for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the First Edition statement and the printed jacket price, are typically smaller, and may carry a blind stamp to the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mating a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Edition stated on the copyright page with no reference to a later printing (Knopf used the statement rather than a number line for this title); Borzoi/Knopf (New York) imprint; yellow cloth spine over beige boards, map endpapers; first-issue dust jacket priced 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. The US Knopf hardcover of 1991 is the true first edition. It won the 1991 National Book Award for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the First Edition statement and the printed jacket price, are typically smaller, and may carry a blind stamp to the rear board.
I have a first edition of Mating — 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.