The points of issue
The true first edition of Mayordomo signed first by Stanley Crawford is identified by: UNM Press 1988 Western States Book Award, NM acequia.
UNM Press’s first-printing convention: ISBN prefix 978-0-8263 Negative-evidence (no later-printing language) on pre-1970 titles. Full points-of-issue methodology →
Commonly confused with
Book-club editions and later printings reprint the text but are not the first edition and are far less collectible. When a hardcover and a simultaneous paperback exist (standard from the mid-1970s), the hardcover in dust jacket is the collector's first. Use the points above to be certain — see book-club edition vs. first edition.
Where it sits
Mayordomo signed first is a Tier 4 (entry-level to mid three-figure) title in the New Mexico Book Value Index. Crawford's 1988 acequia memoir won the Western States Book Award.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mayordomo signed first a first edition?
Look for these first-printing points: UNM Press 1988 Western States Book Award, NM acequia For UNM Press, ISBN prefix 978-0-8263 Negative-evidence (no later-printing language) on pre-1970 titles. Later printings and book-club editions lack them.
How do I tell a first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention: ISBN prefix 978-0-8263 Negative-evidence (no later-printing language) on pre-1970 titles, and confirm the named point of issue above. A number line, stated edition, or dated first printing is the key.
Is a book-club edition the same as a first edition?
No. Book-club editions (BCE) reprint the text but are not the true first edition and are far less collectible — When a hardcover and a simultaneous paperback exist (standard from the mid-1970s), the hardcover in dust jacket is the collector's first.. Check the points of issue above to be sure.
I have a first edition of Mayordomo signed first — what should I do with it?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque in any condition and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. If you'd rather sell, see the Stanley Crawford collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.