The points of issue
Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1988 (ISBN 0-8050-0895-0); 226 pp. 'First Edition' stated with the number line on the copyright page; original quarter burgundy cloth with speckled paper-covered boards, gilt spine lettering, in an unclipped pictorial dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Henry Holt 1988 trade hardcover is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings show added printing statements or a shortened number line. Confirm the stated First Edition and intact number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tracks a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1988 (ISBN 0-8050-0895-0); 226 pp. 'First Edition' stated with the number line on the copyright page; original quarter burgundy cloth with speckled paper-covered boards, gilt spine lettering, in an unclipped pictorial dust jacket.
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 Henry Holt 1988 trade hardcover is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings show added printing statements or a shortened number line. Confirm the stated First Edition and intact number line.
I have a first edition of Tracks — 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.