The points of issue
Putnam US hardcover with a full number line ending in 1. Viking UK hardcover also dated 1999.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam and UK Viking are both dated 1999; precedence between the two is not firmly established in the standard references, so neither should be asserted as definitively earlier. Bridge trilogy volume 3.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Science Fiction Book Club issue exists, identifiable by the blind gutter dot and no jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of All Tomorrow's Parties a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Putnam US hardcover with a full number line ending in 1. Viking UK hardcover also dated 1999.
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 Putnam and UK Viking are both dated 1999; precedence between the two is not firmly established in the standard references, so neither should be asserted as definitively earlier. Bridge trilogy volume 3.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Science Fiction Book Club issue exists, identifiable by the blind gutter dot and no jacket price.
I have a first edition of All Tomorrow's Parties — 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.