The points of issue
First printing has "FIRST EDITION" stated on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; dust jacket carries the printed publisher's price, unclipped. Third novel in the Frank Bascombe sequence, following The Sportswriter and Independence Day.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf is the true first edition; the UK Bloomsbury edition (2006) follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition issue; later printings show a number line no longer ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Lay of the Land a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has "FIRST EDITION" stated on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; dust jacket carries the printed publisher's price, unclipped. Third novel in the Frank Bascombe sequence, following The Sportswriter and Independence Day.
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 Knopf is the true first edition; the UK Bloomsbury edition (2006) follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No prominent book-club edition issue; later printings show a number line no longer ending in 1.
I have a first edition of The Lay of the Land — 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.