The points of issue
Pocket Books hardcover (September 1997); first printing with the complete number line and a priced dust jacket; publisher's boards. Dust jacket art by Gary Halsey.
Is this the true first?
The US Pocket Books 1997 hardcover is the true first. The complete number line identifies the first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition: no price on the jacket, a blind-stamp on the rear board, and it lacks the full number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Moon and the Sun a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pocket Books hardcover (September 1997); first printing with the complete number line and a priced dust jacket; publisher's boards. Dust jacket art by Gary Halsey.
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 Pocket Books 1997 hardcover is the true first. The complete number line identifies the first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition: no price on the jacket, a blind-stamp on the rear board, and it lacks the full number line.
I have a first edition of The Moon and the Sun — 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.