The points of issue
First Scribner edition, full number line. Memoir/craft book.
Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder · Scribner first-edition guide.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner true first; UK Hodder follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
BCE markings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of On Writing a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Scribner edition, full number line. Memoir/craft book.
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 Scribner true first; UK Hodder follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
BCE markings.
I have a first edition of On Writing — 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.