The points of issue
Atheneum first printing identified by the number line on the copyright page containing a 1. Gathers fifty stories, including the earlier collections The Names and Faces of Heroes and Permanent Errors plus previously uncollected stories, so it is a first-thus gathering. Original unclipped dust jacket with the publisher's price intact.
Is this the true first?
US first (Atheneum, New York); first collected gathering of the stories (first thus).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition typically lacks the full number line, carries a blind stamp on the rear board, and has a jacket with no printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Collected Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Atheneum first printing identified by the number line on the copyright page containing a 1. Gathers fifty stories, including the earlier collections The Names and Faces of Heroes and Permanent Errors plus previously uncollected stories, so it is a first-thus gathering. Original unclipped dust jacket with the publisher's price intact.
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. US first (Atheneum, New York); first collected gathering of the stories (first thus).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition typically lacks the full number line, carries a blind stamp on the rear board, and has a jacket with no printed price.
I have a first edition of The Collected Stories — 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.