The points of issue
E. P. Dutton & Co., New York, 1972, with color photographs by Eliot Porter. The first printing is identified by the first-printing statement on the copyright page and a priced first-state dust jacket on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Dutton (New York) is the true first. The book was a National Book Award finalist.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm the copyright-page first-printing statement; book-club issues lack the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Tree Where Man Was Born a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: E. P. Dutton & Co., New York, 1972, with color photographs by Eliot Porter. The first printing is identified by the first-printing statement on the copyright page and a priced first-state dust jacket on the front flap.
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 Dutton (New York) is the true first. The book was a National Book Award finalist.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm the copyright-page first-printing statement; book-club issues lack the jacket price.
I have a first edition of The Tree Where Man Was Born — 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.