The points of issue
Novel. The trade first carries FIRST PRINTING on the copyright page. There is also a signed limited issue of 300 numbered copies signed by the author, with the limitation leaf bound in ahead of the half-title and issued in a publisher's slipcase.
Is this the true first?
United States Random House edition (1965) is the true first; the Hodder & Stoughton London edition followed in 1966. The signed limited issue and the trade first both appeared in 1965.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book club edition lacks the FIRST PRINTING statement and is typically identified by a blind-stamped device in the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Lockwood Concern a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Novel. The trade first carries FIRST PRINTING on the copyright page. There is also a signed limited issue of 300 numbered copies signed by the author, with the limitation leaf bound in ahead of the half-title and issued in a publisher's slipcase.
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. United States Random House edition (1965) is the true first; the Hodder & Stoughton London edition followed in 1966. The signed limited issue and the trade first both appeared in 1965.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book club edition lacks the FIRST PRINTING statement and is typically identified by a blind-stamped device in the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Lockwood Concern — 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.