The points of issue
Random House US first edition: copyright page states First Edition with a number line beginning at 2, per Random House house style of the period.
Is this the true first?
US Random House is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the number line and the jacket flap price and may have a blind stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mr. X a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House US first edition: copyright page states First Edition with a number line beginning at 2, per Random House house style of the period.
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 Random House is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the number line and the jacket flap price and may have a blind stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Mr. X — 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.