The Correct First Printing
Farmer
Publication: New York: Viking Press, 1976. First Edition.
Notes: A signed copy of Harrison's third novel, here in the correct first printing with 5-inch wide brown paper on the boards.
[viii], 160 pages.
Edition + Condition: First edition (first printing, with the brown paper covering the boards measuring 5 inches in width). A fine copy in a fine dust jacket with very minor wear to the top edge. Signed by Harrison on the title page. A very nice copy, with bright top stain.
According to Harrison's bibliography (Orr and Torry, A12b), there are two "states" of the binding for this book. This is incorrect. The publisher recalled the 5-inch copies and replaced them with ones measuring 4-7/8 inches, while also fixing a problem with the binding. The problem is usually explained as something to do with the glue. I suspect it actually has to do with the size of the page block, which is too big for the binding.
This means the publisher ordered a second *printing* of the book, identical to the first except for the binding. These are not states or issues, which only occur *within* a printing. They are separate printings. In the first printing, the brown paper portion of the binding measures 5 inches. All other copies are later printings.
The original first printing was 7,500 copies. It is not known how many were destroyed at the publisher's request, but probably a good chunk of them.
ISBN: 0670308382
Item No: #364952
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