The points of issue
First printing carries the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with the Henry Holt imprint. Dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Later trade printings show a shortened number line.
Is this the true first?
US Henry Holt 1988 trade first edition, first printing. Abbey's late autobiographical novel, published shortly before his 1989 death.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note. The trade first is identified by the complete number line ending in 1; reprints carry an incomplete line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fool's Progress: An Honest Novel a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with the Henry Holt imprint. Dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Later trade printings show a shortened number line.
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 Henry Holt 1988 trade first edition, first printing. Abbey's late autobiographical novel, published shortly before his 1989 death.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of note. The trade first is identified by the complete number line ending in 1; reprints carry an incomplete line.
I have a first edition of The Fool's Progress: An Honest Novel — 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.