The points of issue
White cloth with black spine lettering; black top stain (top edge dyed black); octavo, 225 pp.; pictorial dust jacket designed by Paul Bacon, unclipped with original price. Harrison's first novel.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster, New York, 1971 is the true first (ISBN 0-671-21057-1). A UK first followed from Eyre Methuen.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings lack the first-printing statement; book-club issues lack the original price and use cheaper boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wolf: A False Memoir a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: White cloth with black spine lettering; black top stain (top edge dyed black); octavo, 225 pp.; pictorial dust jacket designed by Paul Bacon, unclipped with original price. Harrison's first novel.
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 Simon & Schuster, New York, 1971 is the true first (ISBN 0-671-21057-1). A UK first followed from Eyre Methuen.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings lack the first-printing statement; book-club issues lack the original price and use cheaper boards.
I have a first edition of Wolf: A False Memoir — 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.