The points of issue
First printing has the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page. Issued in three-quarter cloth with a priced, unclipped dust jacket. A signed, numbered limited edition with slipcase was also published.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1982 G. P. Putnam's Sons edition, New York. UK first followed from Secker & Warburg, 1982.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club issue is blind-stamped to the rear board with an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sabbatical: A Romance a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page. Issued in three-quarter cloth with a priced, unclipped dust jacket. A signed, numbered limited edition with slipcase was also published.
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 1982 G. P. Putnam's Sons edition, New York. UK first followed from Secker & Warburg, 1982.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club issue is blind-stamped to the rear board with an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Sabbatical: A Romance — 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.