The points of issue
First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a number line descending to 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price. Posthumous Arthurian novel, illustrated by Barry Moser.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1990 Harper & Row edition, published posthumously (Barthelme died in 1989).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No widely noted book-club issue of consequence.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The King a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a number line descending to 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price. Posthumous Arthurian novel, illustrated by Barry Moser.
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. True first is the 1990 Harper & Row edition, published posthumously (Barthelme died in 1989).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No widely noted book-club issue of consequence.
I have a first edition of The King — 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.