The points of issue
UK Bantam Press trade paperback original, published September 2000 — no UK hardcover was issued. First printing has a full number line including 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The UK Bantam Press 2000 trade paperback is the true first edition. The first hardcover anywhere is the US Tor edition of February 2005, which is a later edition despite being the first in cloth.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The UK mass-market paperback (2001), the US Tor hardcover (2005), and later printings and book-club copies all differ from the trade paperback first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Deadhouse Gates (Malazan 2) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Bantam Press trade paperback original, published September 2000 — no UK hardcover was issued. First printing has a full number line including 1 on the copyright page.
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 Bantam Press 2000 trade paperback is the true first edition. The first hardcover anywhere is the US Tor edition of February 2005, which is a later edition despite being the first in cloth.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The UK mass-market paperback (2001), the US Tor hardcover (2005), and later printings and book-club copies all differ from the trade paperback first.
I have a first edition of Deadhouse Gates (Malazan 2) — 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.