The points of issue
McGuane's second novel. Simon & Schuster first printing (ISBN 0-671-20819-5 / 9780671208196) with the original jacket price unclipped on the front flap. Winner of the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Is this the true first?
The US Simon & Schuster 1971 edition is the true first. A UK edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the original flap price and the first-printing identifiers; a blind-stamp to the rear board is possible on club issues.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Bushwhacked Piano a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: McGuane's second novel. Simon & Schuster first printing (ISBN 0-671-20819-5 / 9780671208196) with the original jacket price unclipped on the front flap. Winner of the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
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 Simon & Schuster 1971 edition is the true first. A UK edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the original flap price and the first-printing identifiers; a blind-stamp to the rear board is possible on club issues.
I have a first edition of The Bushwhacked Piano — 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.