The points of issue
Dutton first printing: full number line present ending in 1 with no later-printing statement; the unclipped jacket carries the printed price (jacket designed by Terry Fehr). A Franklin Library signed limited edition also exists separately.
Is this the true first?
The US Dutton edition is the true first; the UK Jonathan Cape edition of 1981 follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club issue: smaller, no number line, blind-stamp to the rear board, and no price printed on the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Hotel New Hampshire a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Dutton first printing: full number line present ending in 1 with no later-printing statement; the unclipped jacket carries the printed price (jacket designed by Terry Fehr). A Franklin Library signed limited edition also exists separately.
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 Dutton edition is the true first; the UK Jonathan Cape edition of 1981 follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club issue: smaller, no number line, blind-stamp to the rear board, and no price printed on the jacket.
I have a first edition of The Hotel New Hampshire — 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.