The points of issue
Harper & Row, 1972. The first printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with the full number line printed at the foot of the last page ending in 1 (the Harper & Row convention of this era placed the number line on the final page, not the copyright page). First-state dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. The classic Brooklyn Dodgers elegy.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row first is the true first; a cornerstone of literary baseball writing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the priced jacket and often show a blind stamp to the rear board. Verify both the stated 'First Edition' and the complete number line ending in 1 on the last page, with the priced jacket. Note that Harper & Row sometimes failed to delete the 'First Edition' statement on later printings, so the number line is the reliable check.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Boys of Summer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harper & Row, 1972. The first printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with the full number line printed at the foot of the last page ending in 1 (the Harper & Row convention of this era placed the number line on the final page, not the copyright page). First-state dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. The classic Brooklyn Dodgers elegy.
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 Harper & Row first is the true first; a cornerstone of literary baseball writing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the priced jacket and often show a blind stamp to the rear board. Verify both the stated 'First Edition' and the complete number line ending in 1 on the last page, with the priced jacket. Note that Harper & Row sometimes failed to delete the 'First Edition' statement on later printings, so the number line is the reliable check.
I have a first edition of The Boys of Summer — 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.