The points of issue
Knopf, New York, 1980. The true first states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the borzoi colophon; quarter brown cloth over yellow paper-covered boards, spine lettered in gilt, in the original unclipped dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1980 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the stated 'FIRST EDITION'; the jacket typically carries no printed price and the boards may bear a blind-stamped club dot.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Morgan's Passing a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf, New York, 1980. The true first states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the borzoi colophon; quarter brown cloth over yellow paper-covered boards, spine lettered in gilt, in the original unclipped dust jacket.
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 Knopf 1980 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the stated 'FIRST EDITION'; the jacket typically carries no printed price and the boards may bear a blind-stamped club dot.
I have a first edition of Morgan's Passing — 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.