The points of issue
Copyright page states First Edition with a number line ending in 1; jacket carries the printed price on the flap. Chabon's debut novel.
Is this the true first?
US William Morrow is the true first; the UK Hodder edition followed. The hardcover first precedes the later Perennial paperback.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition; later printings drop the lowest number from the line, and reprints appear as Harper/Perennial paperbacks.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states First Edition with a number line ending in 1; jacket carries the printed price on the flap. Chabon's debut novel.
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 William Morrow is the true first; the UK Hodder edition followed. The hardcover first precedes the later Perennial paperback.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club edition; later printings drop the lowest number from the line, and reprints appear as Harper/Perennial paperbacks.
I have a first edition of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh — 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.