The points of issue
Mariner Books (Houghton Mifflin) trade paperback original, 2002 (ISBN 061809525X). Issued as a paperback original with no preceding hardcover; verify the Mariner imprint and the number line on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The US Mariner trade paperback original (2002) is the true first; there is no preceding hardcover. It won the PEN/Faulkner Award (announced in 2003 for the 2002 book).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No hardcover or book-club state exists; the paperback original is itself the first edition. Confirm the Mariner imprint and number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Caprices a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Mariner Books (Houghton Mifflin) trade paperback original, 2002 (ISBN 061809525X). Issued as a paperback original with no preceding hardcover; verify the Mariner imprint and the number line on the copyright page.
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 Mariner trade paperback original (2002) is the true first; there is no preceding hardcover. It won the PEN/Faulkner Award (announced in 2003 for the 2002 book).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No hardcover or book-club state exists; the paperback original is itself the first edition. Confirm the Mariner imprint and number line.
I have a first edition of The Caprices — 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.