The points of issue
First printing from David R. Godine, Boston, 1975; original cloth in dust jacket priced 8.95 on the front flap. Dubus's first story collection (his second book). Won the Boston Globe's first Laurence L. Winship Award (1975).
Is this the true first?
The US David R. Godine 1975 edition is the true first of this collection; it is Dubus's first book of short fiction but not his debut book, which is The Lieutenant (1967).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Godine copies lacking the 8.95 first-state flap price, or stating a later printing on the copyright page, are not the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Separate Flights a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing from David R. Godine, Boston, 1975; original cloth in dust jacket priced 8.95 on the front flap. Dubus's first story collection (his second book). Won the Boston Globe's first Laurence L. Winship Award (1975).
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 David R. Godine 1975 edition is the true first of this collection; it is Dubus's first book of short fiction but not his debut book, which is The Lieutenant (1967).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Godine copies lacking the 8.95 first-state flap price, or stating a later printing on the copyright page, are not the first printing.
I have a first edition of Separate Flights — 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.