The points of issue
Two-tone cloth with gilt spine titles; orange dust jacket, unclipped. Copyright page states First edition together with the letter line B C D E. Within the 1973-1983 Harcourt window the omitted 'A' is correct, so 'First edition / B C D E' is the true first printing.
Is this the true first?
US HBJ 1976 is the true first; a stated 'First edition' WITH the 'B C D E' line is the correct first-printing state for this window.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Caution: a copy showing 'B C D E' but lacking the stated 'First edition' is a later printing, not the first. Later printings further shorten the letter line; resold copies often lack the orange topstain or the priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Meridian a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Two-tone cloth with gilt spine titles; orange dust jacket, unclipped. Copyright page states First edition together with the letter line B C D E. Within the 1973-1983 Harcourt window the omitted 'A' is correct, so 'First edition / B C D E' is the true first printing.
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 HBJ 1976 is the true first; a stated 'First edition' WITH the 'B C D E' line is the correct first-printing state for this window.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Caution: a copy showing 'B C D E' but lacking the stated 'First edition' is a later printing, not the first. Later printings further shorten the letter line; resold copies often lack the orange topstain or the priced jacket.
I have a first edition of Meridian — 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.