The points of issue
US Harper (HarperCollins) first: the copyright page states FIRST EDITION and carries a full number line descending to 1; first-issue cloth and jacket carry the printed price; published October 2022. Heavy reprinting followed the book's awards, so true first printings are less common than later states. The number line descending to 1 is the decisive tell.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper/HarperCollins 2022 printing is the true first; the stated FIRST EDITION plus a number line ending in 1 confirms it. The UK Faber edition is a separate first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line. The number line ending in 1 is the key identifier given the heavy reprinting after the book won its awards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Demon Copperhead a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Harper (HarperCollins) first: the copyright page states FIRST EDITION and carries a full number line descending to 1; first-issue cloth and jacket carry the printed price; published October 2022. Heavy reprinting followed the book's awards, so true first printings are less common than later states. The number line descending to 1 is the decisive tell.
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 Harper/HarperCollins 2022 printing is the true first; the stated FIRST EDITION plus a number line ending in 1 confirms it. The UK Faber edition is a separate first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line. The number line ending in 1 is the key identifier given the heavy reprinting after the book won its awards.
I have a first edition of Demon Copperhead — 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.