The points of issue
First printing with the Viking imprint, 1985, with the number line on the copyright page ending in 1 and a priced first-issue dust jacket. A collection of Wyoming high-plains essays.
Is this the true first?
The US Viking 1985 edition is the true first and Ehrlich's essay debut. The UK edition and later Penguin paperback are separate states.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identified by the intact number line ending in 1 and the priced first-issue jacket; book-club copies typically lack the full number line and carry a blind stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Solace of Open Spaces a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing with the Viking imprint, 1985, with the number line on the copyright page ending in 1 and a priced first-issue dust jacket. A collection of Wyoming high-plains essays.
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 Viking 1985 edition is the true first and Ehrlich's essay debut. The UK edition and later Penguin paperback are separate states.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identified by the intact number line ending in 1 and the priced first-issue jacket; book-club copies typically lack the full number line and carry a blind stamp.
I have a first edition of The Solace of Open Spaces — 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.