We'll
begin with a book randomly selected from our own unnecessarily large collection:
a good-looking novel, on the whole, in a protective cover.  (The Highsmith company of Wisconsin, by the way,
is a library supplier where you can obtain mylar dustjacket protectors at
a good price and in small quantities.)
Much of the information you'll need for identifying a first edition is
contained on the copyright page, which can generally be found on the reverse
side of the title page.
 The number series found on the copyright page of many modern books
is a valuable clue. Unfortunately, the subject volume lacks this handy feature.
When the number "1" is present, that is an excellent sign, and
really almost always means a first printing. Irritatingly, however, certain
publishers such as Random House (in certain years) omit the "1"
and begin, inexplicably, with "2"-- even on the first printing.
(Grrrr!) Anyway, as we were saying, this particular book has no number series--but--if
you're lucky, you will see the generally credible words, "First Printing."
(There they are! Hooray!) When thus appearing on a modern copyright page,
the words "first printing" mean the first printing of the first
edition, so that when you see that happy phrase your research is--perhaps--over.
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