The points of issue
Trade paperback original from Penguin Books, 2002 — a posthumous collection of essays and occasional writings edited and introduced by Joseph Tabbi. There is no prior hardcover; the Penguin paperback is the first appearance. Identify by the first Penguin printing statement and number line on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 2002 Penguin Books trade paperback original; no hardcover first precedes it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Rush for Second Place: Essays and Occasional Writings a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Trade paperback original from Penguin Books, 2002 — a posthumous collection of essays and occasional writings edited and introduced by Joseph Tabbi. There is no prior hardcover; the Penguin paperback is the first appearance. Identify by the first Penguin printing statement and number line on the copyright page.
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. True first is the 2002 Penguin Books trade paperback original; no hardcover first precedes it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of The Rush for Second Place: Essays and Occasional Writings — 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.