The points of issue
Stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with the number line printed down to 1; Holt, Rinehart and Winston imprint; orange cloth over yellow boards with gilt spine; dust jacket bearing the original printed price. Second volume of the New Mexico Trilogy.
Is this the true first?
The US Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition of 1978 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identified by the stated 'First Edition' with the full number line and the priced jacket; book-club copies omit these and carry a blind-stamped board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Magic Journey a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with the number line printed down to 1; Holt, Rinehart and Winston imprint; orange cloth over yellow boards with gilt spine; dust jacket bearing the original printed price. Second volume of the New Mexico Trilogy.
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 Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition of 1978 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identified by the stated 'First Edition' with the full number line and the priced jacket; book-club copies omit these and carry a blind-stamped board.
I have a first edition of The Magic Journey — 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.