The points of issue
First edition stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indicator; Harper & Row imprint; dust jacket priced on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row hardcover of 1980 is the true first. It won the fiction award presented in 1981; during 1980 to 1986 the National Book Award was administered under the American Book Awards (TABA) name, so contemporary references call it the American Book Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are typically smaller, carry a blind-stamp on the rear board, and have an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Plains Song: For Female Voices a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indicator; Harper & Row imprint; dust jacket priced on the front flap.
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 hardcover of 1980 is the true first. It won the fiction award presented in 1981; during 1980 to 1986 the National Book Award was administered under the American Book Awards (TABA) name, so contemporary references call it the American Book Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are typically smaller, carry a blind-stamp on the rear board, and have an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Plains Song: For Female Voices — 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.