The points of issue
First U.S. edition published 2008 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (ISBN 0547072481). First printing carries a copyright-page number line descending to 1 per the publisher's convention; the dust jacket carries the original price. Nine interrelated stories set in a Maryland gated community.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 2008 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt U.S. edition. Verified against dealer and library records.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title. Some dealers cite the colophon as 'Houghton Mifflin Company'; the 2008 imprint name is Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Development: Nine Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First U.S. edition published 2008 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (ISBN 0547072481). First printing carries a copyright-page number line descending to 1 per the publisher's convention; the dust jacket carries the original price. Nine interrelated stories set in a Maryland gated community.
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. True first is the 2008 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt U.S. edition. Verified against dealer and library records.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title. Some dealers cite the colophon as 'Houghton Mifflin Company'; the 2008 imprint name is Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
I have a first edition of The Development: Nine 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.