The points of issue
UK Gollancz hardcover, 28 February 2002, ISBN 0-575-07321-7; dust jacket; first printing per the Gollancz number line. Morgan's debut; signed copies are common from launch.
Is this the true first?
The UK Gollancz 2002 hardcover is the true first. The US Del Rey edition (March 2003) was the Philip K. Dick Award-eligible edition and is the first US printing; it won the award presented in 2003. Do not conflate the award-eligible Del Rey with the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Del Rey 2003 mass-market paperback is the first US, not the true first. Later Gollancz and Del Rey reissues are reprints. A US Del Rey book-club hardcover state also appears.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Altered Carbon a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Gollancz hardcover, 28 February 2002, ISBN 0-575-07321-7; dust jacket; first printing per the Gollancz number line. Morgan's debut; signed copies are common from launch.
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. The UK Gollancz 2002 hardcover is the true first. The US Del Rey edition (March 2003) was the Philip K. Dick Award-eligible edition and is the first US printing; it won the award presented in 2003. Do not conflate the award-eligible Del Rey with the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Del Rey 2003 mass-market paperback is the first US, not the true first. Later Gollancz and Del Rey reissues are reprints. A US Del Rey book-club hardcover state also appears.
I have a first edition of Altered Carbon — 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.