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First-Edition Identification · Ishmael Reed

Is My Reckless Eyeballing a First Edition?

St. Martin's Press, 1986

The points of issue

First edition, first printing stated with a number line descending to 1; dust jacket present and priced. Hardcover, 148 pages.

Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder · St. Martin's Press first-edition guide.

Is this the true first?

True first is the 1986 St. Martin's Press (New York) hardcover.

Telling it from reprints & book-club editions

None notable.

Frequently asked questions

Is my copy of Reckless Eyeballing a first edition?

Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing stated with a number line descending to 1; dust jacket present and priced. Hardcover, 148 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. True first is the 1986 St. Martin's Press (New York) hardcover.

Is the book-club edition the same as the first?

None notable.

I have a first edition of Reckless Eyeballing — 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.

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