The points of issue
Knopf, New York, 1976 (title page dated 1976). The true first states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the borzoi colophon; white cloth spine over blue paper-covered boards, lettered in gilt, in the original unclipped dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf, dated 1976, is the collected true first; the UK Chatto & Windus edition followed. Some sources cite a 1975 date, but the Knopf first edition bears a 1976 title-page date.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the stated 'FIRST EDITION'; the jacket usually has no printed price and the boards may show a blind-stamped club dot.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Searching for Caleb a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf, New York, 1976 (title page dated 1976). The true first states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the borzoi colophon; white cloth spine over blue paper-covered boards, lettered in gilt, in the original unclipped dust jacket.
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 Knopf, dated 1976, is the collected true first; the UK Chatto & Windus edition followed. Some sources cite a 1975 date, but the Knopf first edition bears a 1976 title-page date.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the stated 'FIRST EDITION'; the jacket usually has no printed price and the boards may show a blind-stamped club dot.
I have a first edition of Searching for Caleb — 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.