The points of issue
Borzoi/Knopf first edition with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page and a full descending number line to 1; Borzoi colophon. ISBN 0-679-44646-X. First hardcover printing published October 2000. A 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist. First-state dust jacket should be present and unclipped.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf hardcover (2000) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies typically lack the stated first-edition line and number line and carry no printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Quick and the Dead a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Borzoi/Knopf first edition with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page and a full descending number line to 1; Borzoi colophon. ISBN 0-679-44646-X. First hardcover printing published October 2000. A 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist. First-state dust jacket should be present and unclipped.
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 hardcover (2000) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies typically lack the stated first-edition line and number line and carry no printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of The Quick and the Dead — 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.