The points of issue
First Dalkey Archive Press edition, 1991. Issued simultaneously in two formats: a green-cloth hardcover (ISBN 0-916583-84-2) and trade wraps. The hardcover is generally treated as the primary collectible first state. Confirm via the 1991 Dalkey imprint with no later-printing or number-line indication.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1991 Dalkey Archive Press edition (Elmwood Park, IL). No prior or precedence-holding edition; UK/other-country precedence is not a factor.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Under the Shadow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Dalkey Archive Press edition, 1991. Issued simultaneously in two formats: a green-cloth hardcover (ISBN 0-916583-84-2) and trade wraps. The hardcover is generally treated as the primary collectible first state. Confirm via the 1991 Dalkey imprint with no later-printing or number-line indication.
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. True first is the 1991 Dalkey Archive Press edition (Elmwood Park, IL). No prior or precedence-holding edition; UK/other-country precedence is not a factor.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of note.
I have a first edition of Under the Shadow — 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.