The points of issue
First printing is identified by the Scribner imprint with the words "First Edition" stated on the copyright page together with a complete descending number line including the numeral 1. The dust jacket carries the original printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Scribner edition (2002) is the true first. The UK Fourth Estate edition followed in 2003.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition is a concern here. Later printings remove the 1 from the number line or otherwise indicate a later printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of That Old Ace in the Hole a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing is identified by the Scribner imprint with the words "First Edition" stated on the copyright page together with a complete descending number line including the numeral 1. The dust jacket carries the original printed price on the front 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. The US Scribner edition (2002) is the true first. The UK Fourth Estate edition followed in 2003.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book-club edition is a concern here. Later printings remove the 1 from the number line or otherwise indicate a later printing.
I have a first edition of That Old Ace in the Hole — 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.