The points of issue
US first edition: Joanna Cotler Books / HarperCollins, New York, 2004, with First Edition stated and a full number line ending in 1; illustrated throughout with Barker's color paintings. Second book of the Abarat series.
Is this the true first?
US Joanna Cotler Books and UK HarperCollins editions both appeared in 2004, effectively simultaneous; no firm precedence is established, and both are collected as firsts.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies lack the printed jacket price and the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US first edition: Joanna Cotler Books / HarperCollins, New York, 2004, with First Edition stated and a full number line ending in 1; illustrated throughout with Barker's color paintings. Second book 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. US Joanna Cotler Books and UK HarperCollins editions both appeared in 2004, effectively simultaneous; no firm precedence is established, and both are collected as firsts.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies lack the printed jacket price and the number line.
I have a first edition of Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War — 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.