The points of issue
Knopf first edition (January 1997) states 'First Edition' on the copyright page; it was a very large first printing.
Is this the true first?
The UK Headline edition (with full number line 10 through 1) was published about three weeks before the Knopf edition in January 1997 and is technically the true first; the Knopf is the first US edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the First Edition statement and the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sole Survivor a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf first edition (January 1997) states 'First Edition' on the copyright page; it was a very large first printing.
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 UK Headline edition (with full number line 10 through 1) was published about three weeks before the Knopf edition in January 1997 and is technically the true first; the Knopf is the first US edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the First Edition statement and the jacket price.
I have a first edition of Sole Survivor — 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.