The points of issue
UK first edition by Picador, London, 1996, in hardcover (ISBN 0-330-33276-7). Identified by the Picador imprint, the full number line ending in 1, and the original UK priced dust jacket. The founding text of modern 'chick lit.'
Is this the true first?
The UK Picador hardcover is the true first; the US Viking edition (1998) follows and is a separate, later printing. Collect the UK first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue of note; the trap is mistaking the 1998 US Viking edition for the first. Verify the Picador 1996 hardcover with the number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bridget Jones's Diary a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK first edition by Picador, London, 1996, in hardcover (ISBN 0-330-33276-7). Identified by the Picador imprint, the full number line ending in 1, and the original UK priced dust jacket. The founding text of modern 'chick lit.'
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 Picador hardcover is the true first; the US Viking edition (1998) follows and is a separate, later printing. Collect the UK first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue of note; the trap is mistaking the 1998 US Viking edition for the first. Verify the Picador 1996 hardcover with the number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of Bridget Jones's Diary — 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.