The points of issue
Random House of Canada first printing (1993): the copyright page carries NO edition statement and NO number line; first printings are identified by the absence of any later-printing notation (later printings are noted). The US Viking edition is dated 1994 and is the Pulitzer-cited printing.
Is this the true first?
Precedence among the 1993 editions is genuinely contested: the book appeared in 1993 from both Random House of Canada and Fourth Estate (UK), either of which may be the world first, while Viking (US) followed in 1994. The 1994 US Viking edition is the one cited for the Pulitzer (Shields held dual US/Canadian citizenship). Collectors should treat the 1993 Canadian and 1993 UK editions as the precedence candidates and verify by imprint and date.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Canadian first has no edition statement or number line, so it cannot be distinguished from a book-club copy by those points alone; verify the 'Random House of Canada' imprint, the 1993 date, and the absence of any later-printing notation. US book-club copies of the Viking edition typically carry a rear-board blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Stone Diaries a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House of Canada first printing (1993): the copyright page carries NO edition statement and NO number line; first printings are identified by the absence of any later-printing notation (later printings are noted). The US Viking edition is dated 1994 and is the Pulitzer-cited printing.
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. Precedence among the 1993 editions is genuinely contested: the book appeared in 1993 from both Random House of Canada and Fourth Estate (UK), either of which may be the world first, while Viking (US) followed in 1994. The 1994 US Viking edition is the one cited for the Pulitzer (Shields held dual US
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Canadian first has no edition statement or number line, so it cannot be distinguished from a book-club copy by those points alone; verify the 'Random House of Canada' imprint, the 1993 date, and the absence of any later-printing notation. US book-club copies of the Viking edition typically carry a rear-board blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of The Stone Diaries — 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.