The points of issue
Knopf first edition has FIRST EDITION stated on the copyright page, with the Borzoi device. First-issue cloth and dust jacket. Won the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf 1964 printing is the true first; the stated FIRST EDITION designation is the identifying point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the FIRST EDITION statement and typically carry a blind-stamp (small depression) on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Keepers of the House a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf first edition has FIRST EDITION stated on the copyright page, with the Borzoi device. First-issue cloth and dust jacket. Won the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
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 Knopf 1964 printing is the true first; the stated FIRST EDITION designation is the identifying point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the FIRST EDITION statement and typically carry a blind-stamp (small depression) on the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Keepers of the House — 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.