The points of issue
First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page (Lippincott convention) with no later-printing line. Illustrated endpapers/illustrations by Robert Crumb appear in the later illustrated edition—NOT the 1975 first. First-issue jacket art is the cartoon-style monkey-wrench/bridge design; jacket price on front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Lippincott (1975) is the true first. The 1985 Dream Garden Press 'Tenth Anniversary' edition illustrated by R. Crumb is a desirable 'first thus' (often signed/limited) but is NOT the true first. UK edition follows the US.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No standard book-club edition of the 1975 first is prominent; beware confusing the Crumb-illustrated 1985 edition (clearly stated Dream Garden Press) with the first. Reprints lack the 'First Edition' statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Monkey Wrench Gang a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page (Lippincott convention) with no later-printing line. Illustrated endpapers/illustrations by Robert Crumb appear in the later illustrated edition—NOT the 1975 first. First-issue jacket art is the cartoon-style monkey-wrench/bridge design; jacket price on front flap.
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 Lippincott (1975) is the true first. The 1985 Dream Garden Press 'Tenth Anniversary' edition illustrated by R. Crumb is a desirable 'first thus' (often signed/limited) but is NOT the true first. UK edition follows the US.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No standard book-club edition of the 1975 first is prominent; beware confusing the Crumb-illustrated 1985 edition (clearly stated Dream Garden Press) with the first. Reprints lack the 'First Edition' statement.
I have a first edition of The Monkey Wrench Gang — 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.