7 Philip Pullman first editions are documented on this shelf, from The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart 1) (1985) to The Secret Commonwealth (Book of Dust 2) (2019) across 6 different publishers. Each linked guide gives the points of issue that separate a true first printing of that Philip Pullman title from later printings and book-club copies — the publisher and year to expect, the number-line or edition-statement conventions, and the tells that show up in online listings.
Identification only, per the house rule: no prices and no appraisals here. Checking a Philip Pullman copy in hand? Type the title into the First-Edition Checker or photograph the copyright page with Snap & Sort.
- The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart 1) — 1985 · Oxford University PressOxford University Press first, 1985, in hardcover with the OUP first-printing statement on the copyright page and a first-state unclipped dust jacket. An early Pullman that predates His Dark Materials; genuinely scarce in the true first UK hardcover, especially in a fine jacket. UK Oxford University Press true first (1985), preceding the US Alfred A. Knopf edition (1987). An important early collectible Pullman. The US Knopf edition (1987) is later; book-club printings and reissues differ.
- Northern Lights (His Dark Materials 1) — 1995 · Scholastic / PointFirst-issue dust jacket has 'Point' at the foot of the spine, the '7-9 Pratt Street' address on the rear flap, and the price 12.99 on the flap. The true first-state jacket does NOT carry a Carnegie Medal sticker (an obviously later addition). Number-line caution: the true first should NOT show a full 10-down-to-1 line; a later 1996 Scholastic state carries the full '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'. Scholastic/Point…. UK Scholastic/Point is the true world first (July 1995), preceding the US Knopf edition retitled 'The Golden Compass' (1996). The first-state jacket ('Point' at the spine foot plus the 7-9 Pratt Street address, unclipped) is the key identifier. The US edition retitled 'The Golden Compass' (Knopf 1996) is a separate, later issue. A 1996 Scholastic reissue carries the full number line and is not the true first. Book-club editions differ.
- Northern Lights (US title: The Golden Compass) — 1995 · Scholastic UK'POINT' present on the spine and jacket as called for; original price on the front flap; the rear flap carries the '7-9 Pratt Street' address; full number line descending to 1. Jacket art (the alethiometer) by David Scutt. The UK Scholastic/Point 1995 edition is the true first worldwide; the US Knopf 'The Golden Compass' (1996, retitled) is a separate, later first-American edition. Northern Lights won the 1995 Carnegie Medal. Later UK printings alter the rear-flap address/number line and add a Carnegie Medal sticker; the US Knopf edition is not the true first regardless of state.
- The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials 2) — 1997 · Scholastic / PointCopyright-page number line '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' (even-then-odd, containing 1) on the true UK first printing; Scholastic/Point imprint, 1997; first-state jacket price unclipped. Note a variant lacking the leading '2' exists with no established priority. UK Scholastic/Point true world first (1997), preceding the US Knopf edition (also 1997). Confirm the even-then-odd number line containing 1. The US Knopf edition is a separate issue; later printings advance the number line. A printing variant lacking the leading '2' exists with no established priority between the two. Book-club editions differ.
- The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials 3) — 2000 · Scholastic / David FicklingUK first published October 2000 by Scholastic (David Fickling imprint); copyright-page number line '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' (even-then-odd, containing 1) on the first printing; first-state jacket price unclipped. A signed/limited issue exists. UK Scholastic/David Fickling true world first (October 2000), preceding the US Knopf edition. Confirm the '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' number line and first-state jacket. The US Knopf edition is separate; later printings advance the number line. Book-club editions differ.
- La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust 1) — 2017 · David Fickling BooksUK David Fickling Books first and US Knopf first were both published October 19, 2017 (a true simultaneous release), so neither has world-first precedence. The two are typeset separately: the UK edition runs about 546 pages with British spellings; the US Knopf edition runs about 449 pages. On each, a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page indicates the first printing, with the first-state jacket price…. The UK David Fickling and US Knopf editions were published simultaneously on October 19, 2017 — neither precedes the other. Companion/prequel trilogy to His Dark Materials. Collectors distinguish the two by page count and text state (about 546 pages UK vs about 449 pages US) rather than by priority. Later printings advance the number line. UK and US are distinct simultaneous issues, not one preceding the other.
- The Secret Commonwealth (Book of Dust 2) — 2019 · David Fickling / Penguin Random HouseUK David Fickling Books / Penguin first, published 3 October 2019, with a full number line reading down to 1 on the copyright page. Publisher's black boards with gilt speckling and lettering to spine, illustrated endpapers, chapter headpieces by Chris Wormell. First-state unclipped dust jacket. A separate Waterstones exclusive edition also exists. UK David Fickling/Penguin true first (3 October 2019), issued at or ahead of the US Knopf edition of the same year. Later printings advance (shorten) the number line.
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