The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Scribner edition 2005' and carries a full number line counting down to 1, identifying the first printing. ISBN 0-7432-4753-1; first-issue jacket retains the printed price unclipped.
Is this the true first?
The US Scribner edition is the true first, preceding the UK (Virago) edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club hardcover of note; the usual confusion is with later Scribner printings. The 'First Scribner edition 2005' statement plus the full number line to 1 and the unclipped printed-price jacket identify the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Glass Castle: A Memoir a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Scribner edition 2005' and carries a full number line counting down to 1, identifying the first printing. ISBN 0-7432-4753-1; first-issue jacket retains the printed price unclipped.
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 Scribner edition is the true first, preceding the UK (Virago) edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club hardcover of note; the usual confusion is with later Scribner printings. The 'First Scribner edition 2005' statement plus the full number line to 1 and the unclipped printed-price jacket identify the first printing.
I have a first edition of The Glass Castle: A Memoir — 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.