The points of issue
Grey's first commercially successful Western. Harper & Brothers, 1910. The first edition has 1910 on the title page and 'Published September, 1910' on the copyright page (this predates Harper's letter-code system, so no code letter). It includes a black-and-white frontispiece, 'Hare Rode with Mescal,' protected by a tissue guard.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper first is the true first and predates Riders of the Purple Sage; it is the novel that launched Grey's career.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Grosset & Dunlap reprints (with later-title ads and photoplay jackets) are far more common; the true first is the Harper edition with the 1910 title page and the 'Published September, 1910' copyright line and no reprint-publisher imprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Heritage of the Desert a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Grey's first commercially successful Western. Harper & Brothers, 1910. The first edition has 1910 on the title page and 'Published September, 1910' on the copyright page (this predates Harper's letter-code system, so no code letter). It includes a black-and-white frontispiece, 'Hare Rode with Mescal,' protected by a tissue guard.
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 first is the true first and predates Riders of the Purple Sage; it is the novel that launched Grey's career.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Grosset & Dunlap reprints (with later-title ads and photoplay jackets) are far more common; the true first is the Harper edition with the 1910 title page and the 'Published September, 1910' copyright line and no reprint-publisher imprint.
I have a first edition of The Heritage of the Desert — 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.