The points of issue
Hardcover with printed paper-covered boards and French flaps (issued without a separate dust jacket), Pantheon, 2009 (July 2009), ISBN 0-307-37732-9. A first printing carries the full number line ending in 1.
Is this the true first?
An original graphic novel and Mazzucchelli's first; the US Pantheon edition is the true first. The UK Jonathan Cape edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Asterios Polyp a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover with printed paper-covered boards and French flaps (issued without a separate dust jacket), Pantheon, 2009 (July 2009), ISBN 0-307-37732-9. A first printing carries the full number line ending in 1.
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. An original graphic novel and Mazzucchelli's first; the US Pantheon edition is the true first. The UK Jonathan Cape edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition.
I have a first edition of Asterios Polyp — 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.