The points of issue
First edition, first printing, The World Publishing Company, 1971. Identified by the stated First Edition or First Printing line on the copyright page per World convention.
Is this the true first?
US first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints and a Signet paperback are not the first. Confirm the stated first-printing line on the World copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Earnshaw Neighborhood a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, The World Publishing Company, 1971. Identified by the stated First Edition or First Printing line on the copyright page per World convention.
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 edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reprints and a Signet paperback are not the first. Confirm the stated first-printing line on the World copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Earnshaw Neighborhood — 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.