The points of issue
US first edition: Joanna Cotler Books / HarperCollins, New York, 2002, with First Edition stated and a full number line ending in 1; full-color reproductions of Barker's oil paintings throughout, patterned endpapers, and the appendix of excerpts from Klepp's Almenak. First of the Abarat series.
Is this the true first?
UK HarperCollins (London) and US Joanna Cotler Books editions both appeared in 2002; dealers often cite the UK issue as slightly preceding the October 2002 US release, and both are collected as firsts. A signed, numbered limited edition of 175 copies was also issued by B. E. Trice.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies lack the printed jacket price and the number line; the heavy color plates make trade firsts noticeably well-produced by comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Abarat a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US first edition: Joanna Cotler Books / HarperCollins, New York, 2002, with First Edition stated and a full number line ending in 1; full-color reproductions of Barker's oil paintings throughout, patterned endpapers, and the appendix of excerpts from Klepp's Almenak. First of the Abarat series.
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. UK HarperCollins (London) and US Joanna Cotler Books editions both appeared in 2002; dealers often cite the UK issue as slightly preceding the October 2002 US release, and both are collected as firsts. A signed, numbered limited edition of 175 copies was also issued by B. E. Trice.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies lack the printed jacket price and the number line; the heavy color plates make trade firsts noticeably well-produced by comparison.
I have a first edition of Abarat — 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.