The points of issue
Grove Press, New York, 1996. First edition, first printing in hardcover with the original priced dust jacket. The definitive punk oral history, collected as a music high spot.
Is this the true first?
The US Grove Press first printing is the true first; it precedes the UK issue and all later trade reprints.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note. Confirm the 1996 Grove Press hardcover with its original priced jacket and that the copyright page carries no later-printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Grove Press, New York, 1996. First edition, first printing in hardcover with the original priced dust jacket. The definitive punk oral history, collected as a music high spot.
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 Grove Press first printing is the true first; it precedes the UK issue and all later trade reprints.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of note. Confirm the 1996 Grove Press hardcover with its original priced jacket and that the copyright page carries no later-printing statement.
I have a first edition of Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk — 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.