The points of issue
Scribner first edition, ISBN 0-684-83375-9, full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; Scribner 'S' colophon. Subtitled 'A Novella and Short Stories' — the title novella plus stories (155 pp). Verify the jacket price is present and unclipped.
Is this the true first?
The US Scribner hardcover (1997) is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the number line and the priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tumble Home a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Scribner first edition, ISBN 0-684-83375-9, full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; Scribner 'S' colophon. Subtitled 'A Novella and Short Stories' — the title novella plus stories (155 pp). Verify the jacket price is present and unclipped.
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 Scribner hardcover (1997) is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the number line and the priced jacket.
I have a first edition of Tumble Home — 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.