The points of issue
First Edition stated on the copyright page; Knopf borzoi imprint; dust jacket priced on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover of 1989 is the true first; it won the 1989 National Book Award for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are smaller, blind-stamped, and carry an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Spartina a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Edition stated on the copyright page; Knopf borzoi imprint; dust jacket priced on the front flap.
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 Knopf hardcover of 1989 is the true first; it won the 1989 National Book Award for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are smaller, blind-stamped, and carry an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Spartina — 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.