The points of issue
Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line ending in 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, with jacket design by Gloria Adelson. Illustrated with family photographs.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row 1976 edition is the true first; Momaday's Kiowa-rooted memoir.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identified by the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and number line ending in 1 plus the priced first-issue jacket; book-club copies lack these and bear a blind stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Names: A Memoir a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the number line ending in 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, with jacket design by Gloria Adelson. Illustrated with family photographs.
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 Harper & Row 1976 edition is the true first; Momaday's Kiowa-rooted memoir.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identified by the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and number line ending in 1 plus the priced first-issue jacket; book-club copies lack these and bear a blind stamp.
I have a first edition of The Names: A Memoir — 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.