The points of issue
Green cloth with silver spine lettering; 197 pp., octavo; jacket designed by Janet Halverson. First-printing copyright page with no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
The US FSG 1973 edition is the true first. A UK edition followed. National Book Award finalist.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues typically show a blind-stamp to the rear board, lack the original flap price, and use cheaper boards; they lack the FSG first-printing points.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ninety-Two in the Shade a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Green cloth with silver spine lettering; 197 pp., octavo; jacket designed by Janet Halverson. First-printing copyright page with no later-printing statement.
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. The US FSG 1973 edition is the true first. A UK edition followed. National Book Award finalist.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issues typically show a blind-stamp to the rear board, lack the original flap price, and use cheaper boards; they lack the FSG first-printing points.
I have a first edition of Ninety-Two in the Shade — 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.