# Is "People of Darkness" by Tony Hillerman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman (Harper & Row, 1980) is identified by: US Harper & Row first edition, 1980. The US Harper & Row 1980 edition is the true first, introducing Jim Chee.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Harper & Row first edition, 1980
- The copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line descending to 1
- Bound in grey boards with a red spine and silver spine titling
- The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Francesca Greene, showing a black stone bear fetish set within a blue, tan, and red geometric design; the front flap carries a synopsis with the printed price present, and the rear flap carries brief review excerpts of Hillerman's earlier books
- This is the first novel to feature Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Row
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Tony Hillerman |
| Publisher | Harper & Row |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Harper & Row first edition, 1980 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Harper & Row first edition, 1980. The copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line descending to 1. Bound in grey boards with a red spine and silver spine titling. The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Francesca Greene, showing a black stone bear fetish set within a blue, tan, and red geometric design; the front flap carries a synopsis with the printed price present, and the rear flap carries brief review excerpts of Hillerman's earlier books. This is the first novel to feature Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police.

## Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row 1980 edition is the true first, introducing Jim Chee. The UK edition (Gollancz) is a separate, later issue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguished from reprints and book-club issues by the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and the intact number line ending in 1. Book-club copies lack both, have an unpriced jacket, and typically show a blind stamp (small dot or square) on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *People of Darkness* by Tony Hillerman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/people-of-darkness
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.