The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards; copyright page notes first US publication 1997 with a complete descending number line (lowest number 1); first-state jacket priced.
Is this the true first?
US Walker and Company (New York) is the true first, 1997; the UK Jonathan Cape edition followed in 1998.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm the full number line down to 1 on the copyright page. Club or later issues are distinguished by an incomplete number line or a missing jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards; copyright page notes first US publication 1997 with a complete descending number line (lowest number 1); first-state jacket priced.
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. US Walker and Company (New York) is the true first, 1997; the UK Jonathan Cape edition followed in 1998.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm the full number line down to 1 on the copyright page. Club or later issues are distinguished by an incomplete number line or a missing jacket price.
I have a first edition of Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World — 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.