The points of issue
Stated FIRST EDITION on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; Little, Brown imprint. Purple boards with black backstrip. Confirm an unclipped jacket.
Is this the true first?
The US Little, Brown hardcover of 1997 (ISBN 0316579254) is the true first; the UK Flamingo edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the number line and the original jacket price and may show a rear-board blind stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Purple America a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Stated FIRST EDITION on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; Little, Brown imprint. Purple boards with black backstrip. Confirm an unclipped jacket.
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 Little, Brown hardcover of 1997 (ISBN 0316579254) is the true first; the UK Flamingo edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the number line and the original jacket price and may show a rear-board blind stamp.
I have a first edition of Purple America — 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.