# Is "The Blessing Way" by Tony Hillerman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman (Harper & Row, 1970) is identified by: The true first edition of The Blessing Way is the Harper & Row (New York) 1970 issue, the debut of the Leaphorn series, published in the Joan Kahn-Harper Novel of Suspense series. US Harper & Row (1970) is the true first; Hillerman's debut and the first Joe Leaphorn novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The true first edition of The Blessing Way is the Harper & Row (New York) 1970 issue, the debut of the Leaphorn series, published in the Joan Kahn-Harper Novel of Suspense series
- Identify it by the copyright page stating 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line running to 1 (70 71 72 73 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1)
- Bound in violet boards with the title printed in red on the spine, collation [i-iv] 1-201 [202]. Issued in the full-color pictorial dust jacket designed by Mozelle Thompson, with the printed price present on the front flap (unclipped copies retain it)
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Row
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Tony Hillerman |
| Publisher | Harper & Row |
| Year | 1970 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The true first edition of The Blessing Way is the Harper & Row (New York) 1970 issue, the debut of the Leaphorn series, published in the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The true first edition of The Blessing Way is the Harper & Row (New York) 1970 issue, the debut of the Leaphorn series, published in the Joan Kahn-Harper Novel of Suspense series. Identify it by the copyright page stating 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line running to 1 (70 71 72 73 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Bound in violet boards with the title printed in red on the spine, collation [i-iv] 1-201 [202]. Issued in the full-color pictorial dust jacket designed by Mozelle Thompson, with the printed price present on the front flap (unclipped copies retain it).

## Is this the true first?
US Harper & Row (1970) is the true first; Hillerman's debut and the first Joe Leaphorn novel. The most sought Hillerman first, scarce in a fine jacket.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions and later printings reprint the text but are not the first edition and are far less collectible. Book clubs may retain the words 'First Edition' on the copyright page; always cross-check the number line for the terminal 1 and confirm the boards and jacket. See book-club edition vs. first edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Blessing Way* by Tony Hillerman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-blessing-way
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.