The points of issue
Random House first printing states First Edition on the copyright page AND carries a number line whose lowest digit is 2 (for example 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9), per the Random House convention used from 1970 to about 2002; first-issue jacket with the original price. Orange paper-covered boards with a radio-head figure on the front board.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House edition is the true first; one of Elkin's most collected titles.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the First Edition statement. Book-club copies omit the flap price and carry a Book Club Edition notice with a gutter/blind-stamp code.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Dick Gibson Show a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House first printing states First Edition on the copyright page AND carries a number line whose lowest digit is 2 (for example 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9), per the Random House convention used from 1970 to about 2002; first-issue jacket with the original price. Orange paper-covered boards with a radio-head figure on the front board.
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 Random House edition is the true first; one of Elkin's most collected titles.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the First Edition statement. Book-club copies omit the flap price and carry a Book Club Edition notice with a gutter/blind-stamp code.
I have a first edition of The Dick Gibson Show — 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.