The points of issue
Avon paperback original, 1978 — Deveraux's first published novel (set on a New Mexico ranch). Identify by the 'First Avon Printing' statement and the lowest printing number on the copyright page; original cover price printed on the wrapper.
Is this the true first?
The US Avon 1978 mass-market paperback original is the true first; no hardcover precedes it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No earlier book-club or hardcover edition exists. Later printings carry higher Avon printing statements and reissued cover art.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Enchanted Land a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Avon paperback original, 1978 — Deveraux's first published novel (set on a New Mexico ranch). Identify by the 'First Avon Printing' statement and the lowest printing number on the copyright page; original cover price printed on the wrapper.
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 Avon 1978 mass-market paperback original is the true first; no hardcover precedes it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No earlier book-club or hardcover edition exists. Later printings carry higher Avon printing statements and reissued cover art.
I have a first edition of The Enchanted Land — 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.