The points of issue
States 'First published in Great Britain in 1995 by Flamingo,' an imprint of HarperCollins; first published 21 September 1995. Her most acclaimed late novel; won the US National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. Boards in dust jacket, priced.
Is this the true first?
The UK Flamingo (HarperCollins) edition (1995) is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition follows in 1997. The UK precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Blue Flower a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: States 'First published in Great Britain in 1995 by Flamingo,' an imprint of HarperCollins; first published 21 September 1995. Her most acclaimed late novel; won the US National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. Boards in dust jacket, priced.
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 UK Flamingo (HarperCollins) edition (1995) is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition follows in 1997. The UK precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition.
I have a first edition of The Blue Flower — 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.