The points of issue
US Donald I. Fine first edition, 1985, with a complete number line on the copyright page and the original printed price on the jacket front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Donald I. Fine hardcover is the first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions are identified by 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap and no printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tom O'Bedlam a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Donald I. Fine first edition, 1985, with a complete number line on the copyright page and the original printed price on the jacket 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 Donald I. Fine hardcover is the first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions are identified by 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap and no printed price.
I have a first edition of Tom O'Bedlam — 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.