The points of issue
Harper & Row first, 1971; copyright page stated 'FIRST EDITION' with the Harper number line; first-issue dust jacket priced on the front flap. A non-Navajo political thriller.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row edition (1971) is the true first. This is Hillerman's second novel and a standalone (not a Leaphorn/Chee book); genuinely scarcer in collectible condition than the series titles.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price and the full number line; later printings drop the stated 'FIRST EDITION'.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fly on the Wall a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harper & Row first, 1971; copyright page stated 'FIRST EDITION' with the Harper number line; first-issue dust jacket priced on the front flap. A non-Navajo political thriller.
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 Harper & Row edition (1971) is the true first. This is Hillerman's second novel and a standalone (not a Leaphorn/Chee book); genuinely scarcer in collectible condition than the series titles.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price and the full number line; later printings drop the stated 'FIRST EDITION'.
I have a first edition of The Fly on the Wall — 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.