The points of issue
First printing carries a complete number line including the digit 1 on the copyright page, with the price on the dust-jacket front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam edition is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the number line and flap price and may carry a rear-board blind stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Saving Grace a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries a complete number line including the digit 1 on the copyright page, with the price on the dust-jacket front 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 Putnam edition is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the number line and flap price and may carry a rear-board blind stamp.
I have a first edition of Saving Grace — 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.