The points of issue
US Minotaur first, 2010. The copyright page reads 'First Edition' with a number line that includes the 1, and the first issue has an unclipped jacket carrying the original price. It is the sixth Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel and won the 2011 Anthony, Macavity, and Agatha awards.
Is this the true first?
The US Minotaur 2010 edition is the priority first. The UK Sphere (Hachette) edition is a first-thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line that does not include the 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions lack the printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bury Your Dead a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Minotaur first, 2010. The copyright page reads 'First Edition' with a number line that includes the 1, and the first issue has an unclipped jacket carrying the original price. It is the sixth Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel and won the 2011 Anthony, Macavity, and Agatha awards.
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 US Minotaur 2010 edition is the priority first. The UK Sphere (Hachette) edition is a first-thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line that does not include the 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions lack the printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of Bury Your Dead — 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.