# Is "Tinkers" by Paul Harding a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Tinkers by Paul Harding (Bellevue Literary Press, 2009) is identified by: Bellevue Literary Press issued Tinkers in 2009. Correction: the record's claim that 'there was no hardcover trade first' is inaccurate.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Bellevue Literary Press issued Tinkers in 2009
- The true first is the scarce hardcover trade issue (a small printing)
- A simultaneous trade paperback original was also issued and is far more common; the first-printing paperback shows 'First Edition' with a full number line ending in 1 and carries the printed price on the rear cover
- There is also a separate signed limited hardcover of 750 copies done for Powell's Indiespensable subscribers, which should not be confused with the trade hardcover
- For any format, a number line ending in 1 indicates a first printing
- Publisher imprint reads Bellevue Literary Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Paul Harding |
| Publisher | Bellevue Literary Press |
| Year | 2009 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Bellevue Literary Press issued Tinkers in 2009 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Bellevue Literary Press issued Tinkers in 2009. The true first is the scarce hardcover trade issue (a small printing). A simultaneous trade paperback original was also issued and is far more common; the first-printing paperback shows 'First Edition' with a full number line ending in 1 and carries the printed price on the rear cover. There is also a separate signed limited hardcover of 750 copies done for Powell's Indiespensable subscribers, which should not be confused with the trade hardcover. For any format, a number line ending in 1 indicates a first printing.

## Is this the true first?
Correction: the record's claim that 'there was no hardcover trade first' is inaccurate. A scarce hardcover trade issue exists and is generally regarded as the true first; the paperback was the primary trade format and is the more commonly collected first printing. A signed Powell's limited hardcover (750 copies) is a distinct issue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
There is no book-club edition of the true first. Later printings drop the 1 from the number line and may state additional printings.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Tinkers* by Paul Harding a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/tinkers
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.