The points of issue
Harcourt hardcover, first printing. Copyright page carries a stated First Edition line with a full number line counting down to 1. Priced dust jacket; publisher's boards. Third book of the Annals of the Western Shore. ISBN 978-0-15-205770-1.
Is this the true first?
The US Harcourt 2007 hardcover is the true first edition. (Issued under the Harcourt Children's Books imprint as part of the young-adult Annals of the Western Shore.)
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Science Fiction Book Club / book club edition is distinguishable by an unpriced jacket, a blind-stamp gutter dot on the rear board, and the absence of the full Harcourt number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Powers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harcourt hardcover, first printing. Copyright page carries a stated First Edition line with a full number line counting down to 1. Priced dust jacket; publisher's boards. Third book of the Annals of the Western Shore. ISBN 978-0-15-205770-1.
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 Harcourt 2007 hardcover is the true first edition. (Issued under the Harcourt Children's Books imprint as part of the young-adult Annals of the Western Shore.)
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Science Fiction Book Club / book club edition is distinguishable by an unpriced jacket, a blind-stamp gutter dot on the rear board, and the absence of the full Harcourt number line.
I have a first edition of Powers — 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.