Lee Child First Editions

• Killing Floor — 1997 · G. P. Putnam's SonsUS Putnam first, dated 17 March 1997: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a complete Putnam number line ending in '1'. Bound in quarter red paper over white paper boards, black lettering to the spine, with black endpapers. First-issue jacket priced on the front flap and unclipped. The US Putnam edition (17 March 1997) is the true first and Jack Reacher's debut; it precedes the UK Bantam Press hardcover, an unusual case where the American edition is the true first for a British-born author then resident in the US. Won the Anthony and Barry awards for best first novel. Book-club editions lack the stated 'First Edition' and complete number line, typically carry a blind-stamped dot or indentation on the rear board, have no price on the jacket flap, and are printed on lighter bulked paper. The UK Bantam Press first is collectible but secondary to the US Putnam first.
• Die Trying — 1998 · G.P. Putnam's SonsG.P. Putnam's Sons US first edition (1998). The first printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Bound in red paper-covered boards with a red cloth spine, black rule to the front cover and black lettering to the spine, with red endpapers. The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Thomas Tafuri and should retain the printed front-flap price (unclipped preferred). US Putnam hardcover is the collected US first; the second Jack Reacher novel. The UK Bantam Press edition appeared the same year. Book Club Edition is unpriced, carries a blindstamped indent to the lower rear board, and lacks the number line; the boards and paper are noticeably lighter than the Putnam printing.
• Tripwire — 1999 · G.P. Putnam's SonsG.P. Putnam's Sons US first edition (1999). The first printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and is bound in cloth-backed boards. The first-issue dust jacket should be unclipped, retaining the printed front-flap price. US Putnam hardcover is the collected US first; the third Jack Reacher novel, and among the first five Reacher titles Putnam issued in hardcover. The UK Bantam Press edition was published mid-June 1999, days before the US release. Book Club Edition is unpriced, carries a blindstamped indent to the rear board, and lacks the number line; it is printed on lighter, thinner stock than the Putnam first.
• Running Blind (UK: The Visitor) — 2000 · G.P. Putnam's SonsFirst printing carries the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 and the first-state pictorial dust jacket with the printed cover price on the front flap (an unclipped flap shows the original price; clipping alone does not indicate a later state). The novel first appeared in the UK as 'The Visitor' (Bantam Press, April 2000, ISBN 0593043995); Putnam issued it in the US as 'Running Blind' in July 2000. Putnam felt 'The Visitor' sounded too much like science fiction. The UK edition under its own title is the true global first; the Putnam printing (ISBN 9780399146237) is the first US edition and first under the 'Running Blind' title. Book Club Edition is unpriced with a blindstamp to the rear board and lacks the full number line.
• Echo Burning — 2001 · G.P. Putnam's SonsFirst printing carries the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 and the first-state pictorial dust jacket with the printed cover price on the front flap (an unclipped flap confirms the original price; clipping alone does not demote the jacket). Published June 25, 2001. US Putnam hardcover is the collected US first, ISBN 9780399147265; the fifth Jack Reacher novel and the last issued by Putnam. The UK Bantam Press edition appeared 2 April 2001, before the US 25 June 2001 release, so the Bantam printing is the true global first and the Putnam printing is the first US edition. None significant.
• Without Fail — 2002 · G.P. Putnam's SonsThe US Putnam hardcover first printing is identified by a complete number line on the copyright page reading down to 1 ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1"), with no later-printing statement or advanced number line. It is bound in publisher's boards and issued in a first-state pictorial dust jacket carrying the printed cover price on the front flap; the jacket price should be present and unclipped on an unmarked example, and…. The US G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover is the US first; a UK Bantam Press hardcover also appeared in 2002. Collectors treat each national edition as the first in its own market rather than one preceding the other. None significant. Book-club issues, where they exist, lack the full Putnam number line ending in 1 and are typically printed on lighter bulk with a blind board 'dot' and a clubbed jacket without a printed cover price.
• Persuader — 2003 · Delacorte PressOn the US Delacorte edition, look for 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a complete number line descending to 1, and a priced dust jacket. Quarter black paper over white boards. The true first edition is the UK Bantam Press hardcover, published April 2003, which preceded the US Delacorte Press edition (May 2003). The Delacorte printing is the genuine US first edition but not the first appearance in print. Seventh Reacher novel. No significant book-club edition issue on the stated-first US Delacorte printing; identify it by the stated 'First Edition' plus the number line to 1.
• The Enemy — 2004 · Delacorte PressOn the US Delacorte Press edition, the copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a complete number line descending to 1; the '1' must be present for the first printing. Issued in publisher's boards with a pictorial dust jacket; the first-issue jacket should retain its printed front-flap price (presence only, no amount). Signed copies are usually signed on the title page. The true first edition is the UK Bantam Press hardcover, published early 2004, which preceded the US Delacorte Press edition (published 11 May 2004). The Delacorte printing is the genuine US first edition but not the first appearance in print. Eighth Reacher novel, a chronological prequel set during Reacher's Army years. No significant book-club edition issue on the stated-first US Delacorte printing; the stated 'First Edition' with number line to 1 identifies the first printing.
• One Shot — 2005 · Delacorte PressOn the US Delacorte Press edition, the copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a complete number line descending to 1; the '1' must be present for the first printing. The first edition is bound in red paper-covered boards backed with black cloth, with copper-colored foil lettering on the spine; the pictorial dust jacket has a copper-foil background on the front panel and spine with black spine…. The true first edition is the UK Bantam Press hardcover, published April 2005, which preceded the US Delacorte Press edition (published June 2005). The Delacorte printing is the genuine US first edition but not the first appearance in print. Ninth Reacher novel; later adapted as the film 'Jack Reacher'. Later movie tie-in printings tied to the film 'Jack Reacher' exist and are not first editions; the stated 'First Edition' with number line to 1, plus the original copper-foil jacket, identifies the US first printing.
• The Hard Way — 2006 · Delacorte PressOn the US Delacorte Press edition, the copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a complete number line descending to 1; the '1' must be present for the first printing. Issued in publisher's boards with a pictorial dust jacket; the first-issue jacket should retain its printed front-flap price (presence only, no amount). The true first edition is the UK Bantam Press hardcover, published early 2006, which preceded the US Delacorte Press edition (published 16 May 2006). The Delacorte printing is the genuine US first edition but not the first appearance in print. Tenth Reacher novel. No significant book-club edition issue on the stated-first US Delacorte printing; the stated 'First Edition' with number line to 1 identifies the first printing.
• Bad Luck and Trouble — 2007 · Delacorte PressOn the US Delacorte Press edition, look for 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a complete number line descending to 1, and the first-state jacket with its printed price intact. The true first appearance is the UK Bantam Press hardcover (411 pages), published in 2007, which preceded the US Delacorte Press edition of the same year. The Delacorte printing is the genuine US first edition but not the first appearance in print. Eleventh Jack Reacher novel. No significant book-club edition issue affects the stated-first US Delacorte printing.
• Nothing to Lose — 2008 · Delacorte PressOn the US Delacorte Press edition, the copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a complete number line descending to 1 (the Delacorte form 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1); the '1' must be present for the first printing. The book is issued in publisher's boards with a dust jacket, and the first-issue jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap (its presence, not any amount, is the point). Signed copies…. The true first edition is the UK Bantam Press hardcover, published March 2008, which preceded the US Delacorte Press edition (published 3 June 2008). The Delacorte printing is the genuine US first edition but not the first appearance in print. Twelfth Reacher novel. No significant book-club edition issue on the stated-first US Delacorte printing; the stated 'First Edition' with number line to 1 identifies the first printing.
• Gone Tomorrow — 2009 · Bantam PressUK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first: verify the Transworld/Bantam Press imprint and 2009 dating. The US Delacorte printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a number line ending in 1, which identifies the US first printing but not the global true first. Lee Child is British and the UK Bantam Press (Transworld) hardcover preceded the US edition. Gone Tomorrow was published in the UK in April 2009, roughly a month ahead of the US Delacorte Press edition in May 2009. The UK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first edition; the US Delacorte is the first US printing. Thirteenth Reacher novel. None significant.
• 61 Hours — 2010 · Bantam PressUK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first: confirm the Bantam Press imprint and 2010 dating. The US Delacorte printing states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1, which marks the US first printing only. The UK Bantam Press (Transworld) hardcover was published in March 2010, about two months ahead of the US Delacorte Press edition in May 2010. The UK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first edition; the US Delacorte is the first US printing. Fourteenth Reacher novel. None significant.
• Worth Dying For — 2010 · Bantam PressUK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first: confirm the Bantam Press imprint and 2010 dating. The US Delacorte printing states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1, which marks the US first printing only. The UK Bantam Press (Transworld) hardcover was published on 30 September 2010, ahead of the US Delacorte Press edition on 19 October 2010. The UK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first edition; the US Delacorte is the first US printing. Fifteenth Reacher novel. None significant.
• The Affair — 2011 · Delacorte PressThe copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full number line beginning with 1 (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10); on a first printing the lowest number present is 1. The hardcover is issued in a dust jacket bearing the printed cover price on the front flap, which should be present, though whether that flap is clipped does not by itself affect first-edition status. ISBN 978-0-385-34432-6. Unusually for the series, the US Delacorte Press edition (27 September 2011) preceded the UK Bantam Press edition (29 September 2011) by two days, making the US Delacorte the true first. Sixteenth Reacher novel; a prequel set before Killing Floor. None significant.
• A Wanted Man — 2012 · Bantam PressUK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first: confirm the Bantam Press imprint and 2012 dating. The US Delacorte printing states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1, which marks the US first printing only. The UK Bantam Press (Transworld) hardcover was published on 30 August 2012, ahead of the US Delacorte Press edition on 11 September 2012. The UK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first edition; the US Delacorte is the first US printing. Seventeenth Reacher novel. None significant.
• Never Go Back — 2013 · Bantam PressUK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first: confirm the Bantam Press imprint and 2013 dating. The US Delacorte printing states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1, which marks the US first printing only. The UK Bantam Press (Transworld) hardcover was published on 29 August 2013, ahead of the US Delacorte Press edition on 3 September 2013. The UK Bantam Press hardcover is the true first edition; the US Delacorte is the first US printing. Eighteenth Reacher novel. Later movie tie-in printings exist and are not the first edition.
• Personal — 2014 · Bantam PressUK Bantam Press hardback is the true first: hardback with 'First published in Great Britain' on the copyright page and full number line ending in 1. The US Delacorte issue states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1 but is a later state. Nineteenth Reacher novel. The UK Bantam Press edition (28 August 2014) preceded the US Delacorte edition (2 September 2014), so the UK hardback is the true first, not the US. None significant.
• Make Me — 2015 · Delacorte Press"First Edition" stated on the copyright page above a complete descending number line ending in 1 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Delacorte Press hardcover in pictorial dust jacket; the first-issue jacket carries the printed cover price on the front flap, which should be present and unclipped on a collector's copy. US Delacorte true first. Twentieth Reacher novel. The US edition (8 September 2015) preceded the UK Bantam Press edition (10 September 2015), so the US hardback is the true first. No book-club issue of consequence; the stated First Edition with full number line ending in 1 identifies the first printing. Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
• Night School — 2016 · Delacorte Press"First Edition" stated on the copyright page above a complete descending number line ending in 1 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). The first printing is bound in black quarter cloth over matching boards and issued in a pictorial dust jacket depicting a full moon over water. The first-issue jacket carries the printed cover price on the front flap, which should be present and unclipped on a collector's copy. US Delacorte first, twenty-first Reacher novel (a flashback prequel set in 1996). The US Delacorte (ISBN 9780804178808) and UK Bantam Press editions were both released 7 November 2016, so the two hardbacks are effectively simultaneous firsts. No book-club issue of consequence; the stated First Edition with full number line ending in 1 identifies the first printing. Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
• The Midnight Line — 2017 · Delacorte PressOctavo, bound in black boards with red foil lettering to the spine; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page above a complete number line ending in 1 (9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Issued in a color pictorial dust jacket that should retain the publisher's printed price on the front flap; publisher-signed copies carry a 'Signed Copy' seal on the jacket but are otherwise identical to the trade first. US Delacorte Press true first, the twenty-second Jack Reacher novel. The US edition (7 November 2017) preceded the UK Bantam Press edition (15 November 2017), so the US hardback is the true first. None significant. Later printings drop the terminal 1 from the number line while keeping the 'First Edition' statement, so the intact number line is the deciding point.
• Past Tense — 2018 · Delacorte PressOctavo, bound in deep charcoal boards with gilt stamping to the spine; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page above a complete number line ending in 1, with the line running 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Issued in a color pictorial dust jacket that should carry the publisher's printed price at the top of the front flap. Publisher-issued autographed copies (a distinct ISBN) add a round 'Signed Copy' seal to the jacket…. US Delacorte Press first, the twenty-third Jack Reacher novel. The US Delacorte and UK Bantam Press hardbacks were both released on 5 November 2018, so the two editions are effectively simultaneous firsts; each is the true first for its own market. No true book-club issue is a concern here; later Delacorte printings drop the number 1 from the number line while retaining the 'First Edition' slug, so the low number is the operative point.
• Blue Moon — 2019 · Delacorte Press"First Edition" stated on the copyright page above a complete descending number line ending in 1 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). The first printing is bound in gray paper-covered boards with roughly the upper quarter in blue, with gilt lettering and a gilt rule on the spine, and issued in a pictorial dust jacket. The first-issue jacket carries the printed cover price on the front flap, which should be present and…. US Delacorte first, twenty-fourth Reacher novel and the last written solo by Lee Child before Andrew Child joined the series. The US Delacorte (ISBN 9780399593543) and UK Bantam Press editions were both released 29 October 2019, so the two hardbacks are effectively simultaneous firsts. No book-club issue of consequence; the stated First Edition with full number line ending in 1 identifies the first printing. Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.

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