The points of issue
Quarter gray cloth over light-gray paper boards, blue lettering on the front board and spine; original price intact on the front jacket flap. The Random House first printing states First Edition on the copyright page together with a number line ending in 2 (not 1), per Random House practice of that era.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House 1993 edition is the true first. It was the basis for the 1994 Paul Newman film.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club state: no price on the jacket flap, blind-stamp to the rear board, and the words First Edition absent from the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Nobody's Fool a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Quarter gray cloth over light-gray paper boards, blue lettering on the front board and spine; original price intact on the front jacket flap. The Random House first printing states First Edition on the copyright page together with a number line ending in 2 (not 1), per Random House practice of that era.
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 Random House 1993 edition is the true first. It was the basis for the 1994 Paul Newman film.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club state: no price on the jacket flap, blind-stamp to the rear board, and the words First Edition absent from the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Nobody's Fool — 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.