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How to Identify a True First Printing Copy of the Book Helter Skelter

If you are looking for a snapshot of both a horrifying crime and the turbulent times of the 1960s, you might want to pick up a copy of Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. Written by Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Vincent Bugliosi in 1974, it is a detailed description of the killings, the trial and prosecution of Charles Manson and his "family." Bugliosi and his co-writer Curt Gentry received a 1975 Edgar Award in the Best Fact Crime category from the Mystery Writers of America. (See Reference 1.) A signed copy of the 1974 hardback edition of Helter Skelter is selling Alibris.com for $475 as of November 2009. (See Reference 2.) There are several pieces of information you need to find on your copy of the book to tell if you own a first printing, first edition copy.

Instructions

- 1
  Take a look at the copyright page of the book. The first published hardback edition appeared in 1974. In order for your copy to be a first edition, it must say 1974 as the publishing date and the publisher would be W.W. Norton, New York. (See References 1-3.)
- 2
  Looking at the copyright page, you will also see a number line. If the number line is intact -- runs from 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 -- then you have a first edition, first impression. If the number line begins with a 2, then you have a second printing of the first edition, and those are not worth as much as a first edition. This causes much confusion to many book lovers who are looking for "true" first editions. In more recent books, publishers will print "First Edition" on the copyright page, but sometimes it can be a reprinted first edition. The number line is a good guideline to look for when you are looking for first editions. (See References 1-3.)
- 3
  Wrapping up the book is the dust jacket. Helter Skelter's first edition dust jacket is black with red lettering on the front. The back cover is red with the words in black. A dust jacket for this edition, as with most first editions, will make the book more valuable. Be sure to look carefully at the cover and make sure the book is not a reprint and the dust jacket is the original. Sometimes you will find a newer dust jacket on an older book. You can look at the colors in the dust jacket and the date of the reviews on the back of the jacket to tell whether the dust cover belongs to the book. (See References 1-3.)
- 4
  Watch out for the book club edition of this book which was also printed in 1974. A book club edition can look very similar to a first edition. Book club editions tend to be slightly smaller with "Book Club Edition" appearing on the dust jacket. If you are missing the dust jacket, you can always look for the Book club edition blind stamp. This stamp looks like a small raised circle or square on the back board of the book toward the bottom next to the spine. A book club edition will not have the number line on the copyright page. (See Reference 4.)

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