The points of issue
Story collection. Black cloth boards with silver-stamped spine, burnt-orange endpapers, and a priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 2008 is the true first and precedes the US Pantheon edition of 2009.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints and later impressions add the impression statement on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The First Person and Other Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Story collection. Black cloth boards with silver-stamped spine, burnt-orange endpapers, and a priced dust 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. The UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 2008 is the true first and precedes the US Pantheon edition of 2009.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints and later impressions add the impression statement on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The First Person and Other Stories — 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.