The points of issue
First printing from The Dial Press, New York, 1967; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Dubus's first book and his only novel, published the year after he finished the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Genuinely scarce.
Is this the true first?
The US Dial Press 1967 edition is the true first; this, not Separate Flights, is Dubus's actual debut book.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later and reprint copies lack the original priced first-issue jacket; confirm the Dial Press first-printing copyright statement and the priced flap.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Lieutenant a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing from The Dial Press, New York, 1967; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Dubus's first book and his only novel, published the year after he finished the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Genuinely scarce.
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 Dial Press 1967 edition is the true first; this, not Separate Flights, is Dubus's actual debut book.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later and reprint copies lack the original priced first-issue jacket; confirm the Dial Press first-printing copyright statement and the priced flap.
I have a first edition of The Lieutenant — 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.