The points of issue
W. W. Norton hardcover, 1997 (ISBN 0393040372). First printing carries the Norton imprint and a complete number line on the copyright page, with the price printed on the dust jacket flap. The first printing was reportedly small.
Is this the true first?
The US Norton hardcover (1997) is the true first of this debut novel. It won the 1998 PEN/Faulkner Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club issue identified. Confirm the Norton number line on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Bear Comes Home a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: W. W. Norton hardcover, 1997 (ISBN 0393040372). First printing carries the Norton imprint and a complete number line on the copyright page, with the price printed on the dust jacket flap. The first printing was reportedly small.
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 Norton hardcover (1997) is the true first of this debut novel. It won the 1998 PEN/Faulkner Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No prominent book-club issue identified. Confirm the Norton number line on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Bear Comes Home — 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.