The points of issue
US Mysterious Press first, 1987: the copyright page states the printing month (December 1987) with a full number line counting down 10 to 1. Won the 1988 Edgar Award for Best Novel; fourth Gideon Oliver ('skeleton detective') novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Mysterious Press 1987 hardcover is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line that does not end in 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions are typically smaller and lack the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Old Bones a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Mysterious Press first, 1987: the copyright page states the printing month (December 1987) with a full number line counting down 10 to 1. Won the 1988 Edgar Award for Best Novel; fourth Gideon Oliver ('skeleton detective') novel.
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 Mysterious Press 1987 hardcover is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line that does not end in 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions are typically smaller and lack the jacket price.
I have a first edition of Old Bones — 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.