The points of issue
First Fromm International edition, 1995. Hardcover in dust jacket (red cloth spine over taupe boards), ISBN 0-88064-163-0. Confirm via the Fromm imprint and a first-printing dust jacket without later-printing notations.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1995 Fromm International (New York) hardcover. A later Dalkey Archive paperback reissue exists but does not hold precedence over the Fromm first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Red the Fiend a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Fromm International edition, 1995. Hardcover in dust jacket (red cloth spine over taupe boards), ISBN 0-88064-163-0. Confirm via the Fromm imprint and a first-printing dust jacket without later-printing notations.
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 1995 Fromm International (New York) hardcover. A later Dalkey Archive paperback reissue exists but does not hold precedence over the Fromm first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of note.
I have a first edition of Red the Fiend — 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.