The points of issue
First printing identified by a full number line including 1 and a priced dust jacket. Short novel issued in publisher's cloth. An uncorrected proof exists and precedes the published book.
Is this the true first?
True first in book form is the 1987 Linden Press / Simon & Schuster edition (ISBN 0671638130), a revised version of the story first published in American Review in 1975.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Whatever Happened to Gloomy Gus of the Chicago Bears? a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by a full number line including 1 and a priced dust jacket. Short novel issued in publisher's cloth. An uncorrected proof exists and precedes the published book.
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 in book form is the 1987 Linden Press / Simon & Schuster edition (ISBN 0671638130), a revised version of the story first published in American Review in 1975.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Whatever Happened to Gloomy Gus of the Chicago Bears? — 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.