The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket with original unclipped price. Includes maps and plates.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday (New York) is the true first, 2005. The book's full title is 'The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey.'
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Verify the 'First Edition' statement and the complete number line down to 1; the number line distinguishes the first printing from later Doubleday printings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Why We Sleep — n/a; instead: The Beak companion: River of Doubt a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket with original unclipped price. Includes maps and plates.
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 Doubleday (New York) is the true first, 2005. The book's full title is 'The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey.'
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Verify the 'First Edition' statement and the complete number line down to 1; the number line distinguishes the first printing from later Doubleday printings.
I have a first edition of Why We Sleep — n/a; instead: The Beak companion: River of Doubt — 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.