The points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page; a single long poem in red cloth with gilt lettering. Issued as a trade hardcover and as a separate signed limited issue.
Is this the true first?
US first edition and first appearance in book form. The signed limited issue carried a tipped-in signature leaf and was housed in a slipcase.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the "First Edition" statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Zodiac a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page; a single long poem in red cloth with gilt lettering. Issued as a trade hardcover and as a separate signed limited issue.
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 first edition and first appearance in book form. The signed limited issue carried a tipped-in signature leaf and was housed in a slipcase.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the "First Edition" statement.
I have a first edition of The Zodiac — 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.