The points of issue
First printing has a complete number line on the copyright page that includes (ends in) 1; later printings drop the 1. Issued in tan boards with a green spine, gilt lettering, and a price-bearing first-state dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US The Penguin Press (New York), 2010, is the true first edition. Won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, 2011.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm the number line includes 1; any printing line not reaching 1 is a later printing. Heavily reprinted title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Washington: A Life a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has a complete number line on the copyright page that includes (ends in) 1; later printings drop the 1. Issued in tan boards with a green spine, gilt lettering, and a price-bearing first-state 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 The Penguin Press (New York), 2010, is the true first edition. Won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, 2011.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm the number line includes 1; any printing line not reaching 1 is a later printing. Heavily reprinted title.
I have a first edition of Washington: A Life — 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.