The points of issue
Poseidon Press first edition, copyright 1991, with a number line ending in 1. Octavo, quarter navy cloth with maroon paper-covered boards. Gaitskill's first novel. Confirm the original jacket price is present and unclipped.
Is this the true first?
The US Poseidon Press hardcover of 1991 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues omit the number line and the jacket price; later paperbacks are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Two Girls, Fat and Thin a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Poseidon Press first edition, copyright 1991, with a number line ending in 1. Octavo, quarter navy cloth with maroon paper-covered boards. Gaitskill's first novel. Confirm the original 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 Poseidon Press hardcover of 1991 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issues omit the number line and the jacket price; later paperbacks are reprints.
I have a first edition of Two Girls, Fat and Thin — 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.