The points of issue
Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line ending in 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. First novel to feature Jim Chee.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row 1980 edition is the true first, introducing Jim Chee. The UK edition is separate.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguished from reprints by the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and intact number line; book-club issues lack both and have unpriced jackets, usually with a blind stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of People of Darkness a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line ending in 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. First novel to feature Jim Chee.
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 Harper & Row 1980 edition is the true first, introducing Jim Chee. The UK edition is separate.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Distinguished from reprints by the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and intact number line; book-club issues lack both and have unpriced jackets, usually with a blind stamp.
I have a first edition of People of Darkness — 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.