The points of issue
Paperback original in pictorial glossy wraps, issued without dust jacket; wrappers designed by Lorraine Louie with illustration by Rick Lovell; ISBN 0-394-74409-8; First Edition stated on the copyright page. Vintage Contemporaries original, 1986.
Is this the true first?
There is no hardcover true first. The Vintage Contemporaries paperback original is the true first edition of Russo's debut novel. The first hardcover edition appeared in the UK in 1987; a US hardcover did not appear until 2001.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
As a paperback original, beware later printings: confirm the First Edition line and the intact original wrapper price; reprints carry a number line not ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mohawk a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Paperback original in pictorial glossy wraps, issued without dust jacket; wrappers designed by Lorraine Louie with illustration by Rick Lovell; ISBN 0-394-74409-8; First Edition stated on the copyright page. Vintage Contemporaries original, 1986.
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. There is no hardcover true first. The Vintage Contemporaries paperback original is the true first edition of Russo's debut novel. The first hardcover edition appeared in the UK in 1987; a US hardcover did not appear until 2001.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
As a paperback original, beware later printings: confirm the First Edition line and the intact original wrapper price; reprints carry a number line not ending in 1.
I have a first edition of Mohawk — 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.