The points of issue
Quarter brown cloth over green paper boards, gilt spine lettering; [15], 4-288 pp.; jacket designed by Jose Ortega and priced on the front flap; first printing stated on the copyright page. ISBN 0-87113-248-6.
Is this the true first?
The US Atlantic Monthly Press 1989 edition is the true first. The UK first edition is Bloomsbury, 1989 (ISBN 0-7475-0274-9), a separate true first in the UK.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the price on the jacket and the first-printing statement, and use cheaper boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of This Boy's Life: A Memoir a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Quarter brown cloth over green paper boards, gilt spine lettering; [15], 4-288 pp.; jacket designed by Jose Ortega and priced on the front flap; first printing stated on the copyright page. ISBN 0-87113-248-6.
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 Atlantic Monthly Press 1989 edition is the true first. The UK first edition is Bloomsbury, 1989 (ISBN 0-7475-0274-9), a separate true first in the UK.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the price on the jacket and the first-printing statement, and use cheaper boards.
I have a first edition of This Boy's Life: A Memoir — 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.