The points of issue
First printing is the Houghton Mifflin edition stating "First Edition" on the copyright page with a number line including the numeral 1. Robinson's first essay collection; the dust jacket carries the original printed price.
Is this the true first?
The US Houghton Mifflin edition (1998) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club concern. Later printings indicate a higher printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing is the Houghton Mifflin edition stating "First Edition" on the copyright page with a number line including the numeral 1. Robinson's first essay collection; the dust jacket carries the original printed price.
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 Houghton Mifflin edition (1998) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club concern. Later printings indicate a higher printing.
I have a first edition of The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought — 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.