The points of issue
First printing so stated on the copyright page, in the priced illustrated dust jacket. Won the 1969 U.S. National Book Award for Fiction.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1968 Random House edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition is blind-stamped and lacks the printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Steps a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing so stated on the copyright page, in the priced illustrated dust jacket. Won the 1969 U.S. National Book Award for Fiction.
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 1968 Random House edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition is blind-stamped and lacks the printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of Steps — 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.