The points of issue
First printing with the Scribner number line and no later-printing statement; quarter brown cloth over speckled beige paper boards, spine lettered in gilt; 308 pp.; illustrated dust jacket bearing the printed price, unclipped. Proulx's first novel (after the story collection Heart Songs) and winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner's is the true first; the UK 4th Estate edition (1993) follows. Genuine firsts in a fine, unclipped jacket are the desirable state. The byline reads "E. Annie Proulx."
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition issue; later printings carry a printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Postcards a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing with the Scribner number line and no later-printing statement; quarter brown cloth over speckled beige paper boards, spine lettered in gilt; 308 pp.; illustrated dust jacket bearing the printed price, unclipped. Proulx's first novel (after the story collection Heart Songs) and winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award.
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. US Scribner's is the true first; the UK 4th Estate edition (1993) follows. Genuine firsts in a fine, unclipped jacket are the desirable state. The byline reads "E. Annie Proulx."
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No prominent book-club edition issue; later printings carry a printing statement.
I have a first edition of Postcards — 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.