The points of issue
First edition so stated on the copyright page, in the priced dust jacket. This is the original 1973 text; a substantially revised and expanded edition was issued by St. Martin's Press in 1981.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1973 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich edition. The 1981 St. Martin's revised and expanded edition is a 'first thus,' not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition is blind-stamped and lacks the printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Devil Tree a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated on the copyright page, in the priced dust jacket. This is the original 1973 text; a substantially revised and expanded edition was issued by St. Martin's Press in 1981.
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 1973 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich edition. The 1981 St. Martin's revised and expanded edition is a 'first thus,' not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition is blind-stamped and lacks the printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of The Devil Tree — 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.