The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon; first-state dust jacket with price present.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf (New York) is the true first, 1982. Won the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club copies lack the 'First Edition' statement and the jacket price and carry a blind-stamp to the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Path to Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol. 1) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon; first-state dust jacket with price present.
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 Knopf (New York) is the true first, 1982. Won the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-of-the-Month Club copies lack the 'First Edition' statement and the jacket price and carry a blind-stamp to the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Path to Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol. 1) — 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.