The points of issue
Houghton Mifflin first printing: title page dated 1930 with no later-printing statement on the copyright page. The absence of the 1930 date on the title page disqualifies a copy as a first printing. Cloth binding in a first-issue jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Houghton Mifflin 1930 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings add printing statements; reprints are clearly marked.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Years of Grace a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Houghton Mifflin first printing: title page dated 1930 with no later-printing statement on the copyright page. The absence of the 1930 date on the title page disqualifies a copy as a first printing. Cloth binding in a first-issue 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 Houghton Mifflin 1930 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings add printing statements; reprints are clearly marked.
I have a first edition of Years of Grace — 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.