The points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page with the Knopf colophon and the publisher's number line; natural linen and paper-covered boards with blue spine lettering and blue topstain; jacket (designed by Fred Marcellino) carries the original printed price. Dated June 1976.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club copies are typically smaller, lack the stated first-edition point and number line, and carry a blind stamp to the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ratner's Star a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page with the Knopf colophon and the publisher's number line; natural linen and paper-covered boards with blue spine lettering and blue topstain; jacket (designed by Fred Marcellino) carries the original printed price. Dated June 1976.
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 Knopf is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-of-the-Month Club copies are typically smaller, lack the stated first-edition point and number line, and carry a blind stamp to the rear board.
I have a first edition of Ratner's Star — 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.