# Is "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Coraline by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins, 2002) is identified by: Illustrated by Dave McKean. US HarperCollins (July 2002) precedes UK Bloomsbury (August 2002), so the US edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Illustrated by Dave McKean
- US HarperCollins hardcover published July 2002 with 'First Edition' stated over a complete number line reading 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 on the copyright page
- Bound in black paper-covered boards with copper-gilt titling, about 176 pages; the pictorial dust jacket should retain its printed price on the rear panel
- UK Bloomsbury hardcover followed in August 2002
- Publisher imprint reads HarperCollins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Gaiman |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Year | 2002 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Illustrated by Dave McKean |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Illustrated by Dave McKean. US HarperCollins hardcover published July 2002 with 'First Edition' stated over a complete number line reading 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 on the copyright page. Bound in black paper-covered boards with copper-gilt titling, about 176 pages; the pictorial dust jacket should retain its printed price on the rear panel. UK Bloomsbury hardcover followed in August 2002.

## Is this the true first?
US HarperCollins (July 2002) precedes UK Bloomsbury (August 2002), so the US edition is the true first. The Subterranean Press signed limited is a later 2007 edition, collectible but not a first-year issue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings state a higher lowest digit in the number line; a first printing requires the complete line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 descending to 1 beneath the stated 'First Edition,' with the black boards and copper-gilt spine titling of the trade issue.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Coraline* by Neil Gaiman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/coraline
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.