The points of issue
First edition so stated on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1; HarperCollins hardcover in dust jacket with original price, 103 pp. A HarperPerennial trade paperback (ISBN 0060951060) was issued for the same title; the hardcover (ISBN 0060553626) is the collectible first. Confirm the number line reaches 1.
Is this the true first?
US HarperCollins hardcover is the true first. Signed copies exist (signed on the title page).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The HarperPerennial paperback, or any copy with a number line that does not reach 1, indicates it is not the first hardcover printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Atlantis a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1; HarperCollins hardcover in dust jacket with original price, 103 pp. A HarperPerennial trade paperback (ISBN 0060951060) was issued for the same title; the hardcover (ISBN 0060553626) is the collectible first. Confirm the number line reaches 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. US HarperCollins hardcover is the true first. Signed copies exist (signed on the title page).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The HarperPerennial paperback, or any copy with a number line that does not reach 1, indicates it is not the first hardcover printing.
I have a first edition of Atlantis — 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.