The points of issue
Viking trade first with number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page; jacket priced the printed price with 0795 code on the flap.
Is this the true first?
US Viking true first; UK Hodder & Stoughton edition follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
BCE markings, no jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rose Madder a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Viking trade first with number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page; jacket priced the printed price with 0795 code on the flap.
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 Viking true first; UK Hodder & Stoughton edition follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
BCE markings, no jacket price.
I have a first edition of Rose Madder — 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.