The points of issue
UK Titan Books first edition, 1988; softcover (paperback original), 182 pages, ISBN 1-85286-013-8; first printing. A US Pocket Books paperback followed in 1988.
Is this the true first?
The UK Titan 1988 printing is the true first. An often overlooked early Gaiman nonfiction title, though not his first book: his Duran Duran biography (Proteus, 1984) and the co-written Ghastly Beyond Belief (1985) precede it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Revised and retitled later editions (1993, 2002, 2009) are distinct texts, not firsts.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Titan Books first edition, 1988; softcover (paperback original), 182 pages, ISBN 1-85286-013-8; first printing. A US Pocket Books paperback followed in 1988.
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 Titan 1988 printing is the true first. An often overlooked early Gaiman nonfiction title, though not his first book: his Duran Duran biography (Proteus, 1984) and the co-written Ghastly Beyond Belief (1985) precede it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Revised and retitled later editions (1993, 2002, 2009) are distinct texts, not firsts.
I have a first edition of Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion — 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.