The points of issue
First printing identified by the Harper first-printing code line on the copyright page. An illustrated short novel (drawings by LaNelle Mason), issued in the Harper Short Novel Series; first-issue jacket priced on the flap.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Harper & Row, New York). The UK edition (Chatto & Windus) follows in 1989.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The copyright code line changes on later printings; no significant book-club issue noted.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Spence + Lila a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by the Harper first-printing code line on the copyright page. An illustrated short novel (drawings by LaNelle Mason), issued in the Harper Short Novel Series; first-issue jacket priced on the 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. US first edition (Harper & Row, New York). The UK edition (Chatto & Windus) follows in 1989.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The copyright code line changes on later printings; no significant book-club issue noted.
I have a first edition of Spence + Lila — 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.