The points of issue
Norton hardcover with stated first edition and a number line ending in 1; Norton imprint on the copyright page. ISBN 0-393-02884-4. Homes's first story collection (ten stories). Confirm an unclipped jacket.
Is this the true first?
The US W.W. Norton hardcover of 1990 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Vintage paperback is a first-thus reprint, not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Safety of Objects a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Norton hardcover with stated first edition and a number line ending in 1; Norton imprint on the copyright page. ISBN 0-393-02884-4. Homes's first story collection (ten stories). Confirm an unclipped jacket.
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 W.W. Norton hardcover of 1990 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Vintage paperback is a first-thus reprint, not the first.
I have a first edition of The Safety of Objects — 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.