The points of issue
First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Random House number line beginning with 2 (reading 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1); dust jacket carries the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House hardcover of 1988 is the true first; it won the 1988 National Book Award for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the first-edition statement, are smaller, carry a blind-stamp, and have an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Paris Trout a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Random House number line beginning with 2 (reading 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1); dust jacket carries the printed price.
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 hardcover of 1988 is the true first; it won the 1988 National Book Award for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the first-edition statement, are smaller, carry a blind-stamp, and have an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Paris Trout — 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.