The points of issue
The true first is the Bruccoli Clark Publishers limited edition of 1981, a signed and numbered issue of 600 copies illustrated by Rikki Ducornet (copies I to XCV specially bound with a leaf of the author's manuscript). The Grove Press trade hardcover of 1982 follows, identified by a number line including 1 and a priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
True first is the Bruccoli Clark Publishers signed/numbered limited edition (1981); the Grove Press trade edition of 1982 is the first trade appearance and follows it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Spanking the Maid a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first is the Bruccoli Clark Publishers limited edition of 1981, a signed and numbered issue of 600 copies illustrated by Rikki Ducornet (copies I to XCV specially bound with a leaf of the author's manuscript). The Grove Press trade hardcover of 1982 follows, identified by a number line including 1 and a priced 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. True first is the Bruccoli Clark Publishers signed/numbered limited edition (1981); the Grove Press trade edition of 1982 is the first trade appearance and follows it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Spanking the Maid — 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.