The points of issue
First printing of Donald's Lincoln has a complete number line on the copyright page descending to 1. Issued in cloth-backed boards (red and blue) with a price-bearing first-state dust jacket. Illustrated, 714 pages.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster (New York), 1995, is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions typically lack a printed price on the jacket and may differ in board construction; confirm a complete number line ending in 1 on a true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Praying for Sheetrock — n/a; instead: Lincoln (Pulitzer biography) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of Donald's Lincoln has a complete number line on the copyright page descending to 1. Issued in cloth-backed boards (red and blue) with a price-bearing first-state dust jacket. Illustrated, 714 pages.
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 Simon & Schuster (New York), 1995, is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions typically lack a printed price on the jacket and may differ in board construction; confirm a complete number line ending in 1 on a true first.
I have a first edition of Praying for Sheetrock — n/a; instead: Lincoln (Pulitzer biography) — 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.