The points of issue
Stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page; Holt, Rinehart and Winston imprint; black cloth boards with gilt spine; 445 pages, illustrated by Rini Templeton; dust jacket bearing the original printed price (first-issue art, pre-1988 film). First volume of the New Mexico Trilogy.
Is this the true first?
The US Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition of 1974 is the true first. Film-tie-in editions (after the 1988 Robert Redford film) and later Holt paperbacks are separate, later states.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement, carry an unpriced jacket, and bear a blind stamp on the rear board; the stated first with the priced jacket distinguishes the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Milagro Beanfield War (signed/limited and trade first points) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page; Holt, Rinehart and Winston imprint; black cloth boards with gilt spine; 445 pages, illustrated by Rini Templeton; dust jacket bearing the original printed price (first-issue art, pre-1988 film). First 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 1974 is the true first. Film-tie-in editions (after the 1988 Robert Redford film) and later Holt paperbacks are separate, later states.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement, carry an unpriced jacket, and bear a blind stamp on the rear board; the stated first with the priced jacket distinguishes the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Milagro Beanfield War (signed/limited and trade first points) — 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.