The points of issue
First McSweeney's edition (2004), illustrated by Michael Kupperman. Bound in soft cloth with metallic stamping and issued without a dust jacket; 90 pages. A novella. Identification rests on the McSweeney's binding and design rather than a number line, as these titles are typically single-printing objects.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 2004 McSweeney's Books edition (San Francisco).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Stepmother a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First McSweeney's edition (2004), illustrated by Michael Kupperman. Bound in soft cloth with metallic stamping and issued without a dust jacket; 90 pages. A novella. Identification rests on the McSweeney's binding and design rather than a number line, as these titles are typically single-printing objects.
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 2004 McSweeney's Books edition (San Francisco).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Stepmother — 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.