The points of issue
Seaver Books imprint, 1981. Issued simultaneously in trade paperback wrappers (stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page) and in a clothbound hardcover. Unusual oblong octavo format combining poetry, prose, and family photographs. The true first carries the Seaver imprint with no later-printing notice.
Is this the true first?
The US Seaver Books edition of 1981, distributed by Grove Press, is the true first. Both the paperback and the clothbound hardcover are first-printing states. Later Arcade and Penguin reissues are 'first thus.'
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identified by the Seaver Books imprint and the absence of any later-printing notice; reissues bear different imprints and added dates. Note the paperback issue is in wrappers and has no dust jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Storyteller a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Seaver Books imprint, 1981. Issued simultaneously in trade paperback wrappers (stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page) and in a clothbound hardcover. Unusual oblong octavo format combining poetry, prose, and family photographs. The true first carries the Seaver imprint with no later-printing notice.
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 Seaver Books edition of 1981, distributed by Grove Press, is the true first. Both the paperback and the clothbound hardcover are first-printing states. Later Arcade and Penguin reissues are 'first thus.'
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identified by the Seaver Books imprint and the absence of any later-printing notice; reissues bear different imprints and added dates. Note the paperback issue is in wrappers and has no dust jacket.
I have a first edition of Storyteller — 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.