The points of issue
Atlantic Monthly Press, 1986. True first is bound in blue boards backed in red cloth, carries the publisher's first-printing statement on the copyright page, and has a Wendell Minor jacket priced on the flap. The white-paper jacket soils easily, so clean examples are uncommon. Wiley's debut, about 199 pages.
Is this the true first?
The US Atlantic Monthly Press hardcover of 1986 is the true first; it won the 1987 PEN/Faulkner Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue established; confirm the Atlantic Monthly Press first-printing statement on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Soldiers in Hiding a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1986. True first is bound in blue boards backed in red cloth, carries the publisher's first-printing statement on the copyright page, and has a Wendell Minor jacket priced on the flap. The white-paper jacket soils easily, so clean examples are uncommon. Wiley's debut, about 199 pages.
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 Atlantic Monthly Press hardcover of 1986 is the true first; it won the 1987 PEN/Faulkner Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue established; confirm the Atlantic Monthly Press first-printing statement on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Soldiers in Hiding — 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.