The points of issue
First edition, first printing: Crown, 2010, with both the statement 'First Edition' and the full number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' on the copyright page (the '1' present). First-issue dust jacket priced (the printed price).
Is this the true first?
US Crown 2010 is the true first. A modern collected nonfiction title; signed first printings are desirable. Look for both 'First Edition' and the complete number line.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the full number line, are on thinner paper, often smaller, and carry unpriced jackets; later trade printings show shortened number lines not including '1.'
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing: Crown, 2010, with both the statement 'First Edition' and the full number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' on the copyright page (the '1' present). First-issue dust jacket priced (the printed price).
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 Crown 2010 is the true first. A modern collected nonfiction title; signed first printings are desirable. Look for both 'First Edition' and the complete number line.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the full number line, are on thinner paper, often smaller, and carry unpriced jackets; later trade printings show shortened number lines not including '1.'
I have a first edition of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks — 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.