# Is "Airman" by Eoin Colfer a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Airman by Eoin Colfer (Puffin, 2008) is identified by: UK Puffin first edition, published 3 January 2008 (ISBN 9780141383354), 412-page text volume. UK Puffin is the true first (January 2008), preceding the US Hyperion edition (September 2008).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK Puffin first edition, published 3 January 2008 (ISBN 9780141383354), 412-page text volume
- The copyright page carries the first-printing statement with a full descending number line whose terminal digit is 1
- Publisher's black boards with gilt spine lettering and illustrated endpapers; the first-state jacket retains the printed price
- Publisher imprint reads Puffin
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Eoin Colfer |
| Publisher | Puffin |
| Year | 2008 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | UK Puffin first edition, published 3 January 2008 (ISBN 9780141383354), 412-page text… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
UK Puffin first edition, published 3 January 2008 (ISBN 9780141383354), 412-page text volume. The copyright page carries the first-printing statement with a full descending number line whose terminal digit is 1. Publisher's black boards with gilt spine lettering and illustrated endpapers; the first-state jacket retains the printed price.

## Is this the true first?
UK Puffin is the true first (January 2008), preceding the US Hyperion edition (September 2008).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings advance the number line so that the terminal 1 is absent; book-club and later reissues lack the printed jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Airman* by Eoin Colfer a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/airman
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.