The points of issue
Grove Press, New York, 1988, ISBN 9780802110282. First edition issued in hardcover (with dust jacket) and in trade wrappers; the hardcover is the desirable state. Confirm by the stated first-edition designation and the number line on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The US Grove 1988 edition is the true first, concurrent with the Broadway premiere. The Methuen UK edition followed afterward, so US precedence here is not in doubt.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Watch for later Grove printings lacking the first-edition statement or showing a reduced number line. No prominent book-club issue is recorded.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Speed-the-Plow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Grove Press, New York, 1988, ISBN 9780802110282. First edition issued in hardcover (with dust jacket) and in trade wrappers; the hardcover is the desirable state. Confirm by the stated first-edition designation and the number line on the copyright page.
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 Grove 1988 edition is the true first, concurrent with the Broadway premiere. The Methuen UK edition followed afterward, so US precedence here is not in doubt.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Watch for later Grove printings lacking the first-edition statement or showing a reduced number line. No prominent book-club issue is recorded.
I have a first edition of Speed-the-Plow — 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.