The points of issue
Bantam hardcover, December 2002. Copyright page states A Bantam Book / December 2002 with a full number line ending in 1. First printing runs 431 pages; boards are green, though some copies printed more blue.
Is this the true first?
The UK Headline edition (November 2002) preceded the Bantam by about seven weeks; the Bantam is the true first US edition and the standard collected first for this US author.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book club edition shares the trade ISBN but carries a book club identification number and lacks a jacket price; not a first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of By the Light of the Moon a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Bantam hardcover, December 2002. Copyright page states A Bantam Book / December 2002 with a full number line ending in 1. First printing runs 431 pages; boards are green, though some copies printed more blue.
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 Headline edition (November 2002) preceded the Bantam by about seven weeks; the Bantam is the true first US edition and the standard collected first for this US author.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book club edition shares the trade ISBN but carries a book club identification number and lacks a jacket price; not a first.
I have a first edition of By the Light of the Moon — 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.