The points of issue
Little, Brown 1979 first printing: copyright page states 'First Edition' (no number line, per Little, Brown practice of the period); first-issue blue cloth boards with gold spine lettering and priced jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown 1979 trade edition is the true first. The original note claimed a signed/limited issue 'precedes the trade'; this could not be confirmed and has been removed. A Franklin Library signed limited edition exists but is a separate issue, not a precedent to the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions carry a blind-stamp to the rear board and an unpriced jacket; common in book-club form.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Executioner's Song a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Little, Brown 1979 first printing: copyright page states 'First Edition' (no number line, per Little, Brown practice of the period); first-issue blue cloth boards with gold spine lettering and priced jacket.
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 Little, Brown 1979 trade edition is the true first. The original note claimed a signed/limited issue 'precedes the trade'; this could not be confirmed and has been removed. A Franklin Library signed limited edition exists but is a separate issue, not a precedent to the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions carry a blind-stamp to the rear board and an unpriced jacket; common in book-club form.
I have a first edition of The Executioner's Song — 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.