The points of issue
Delacorte Press first, 1992; copyright page carries the full number line counting down to 1; first-issue dust jacket priced. Basis for the film 'Jackie Brown.'
Is this the true first?
The US Delacorte edition (1992) is the true first; a UK Viking edition followed the same year.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price; later printings break the number line so it no longer ends in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rum Punch a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Delacorte Press first, 1992; copyright page carries the full number line counting down to 1; first-issue dust jacket priced. Basis for the film 'Jackie Brown.'
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 Delacorte edition (1992) is the true first; a UK Viking edition followed the same year.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price; later printings break the number line so it no longer ends in 1.
I have a first edition of Rum Punch — 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.