The points of issue
A signed limited edition of 250 copies precedes the first trade printing and is the true first; it is slipcased. The trade first printing carries no statement of later printing on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US first overall is the signed limited of 250 copies, which precedes the trade edition; the unsigned trade printing follows. UK Secker edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later trade printings are noted on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of We Are the Living a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: A signed limited edition of 250 copies precedes the first trade printing and is the true first; it is slipcased. The trade first printing carries no statement of later printing on the copyright page.
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 first overall is the signed limited of 250 copies, which precedes the trade edition; the unsigned trade printing follows. UK Secker edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later trade printings are noted on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of We Are the Living — 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.