The points of issue
Essay collection arranged in five sections. The US Penguin Press hardcover carries the full number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page; cloth-backed boards in dust jacket. The UK Hamish Hamilton hardcover is a closely contemporaneous but slightly later issue.
Is this the true first?
Precedence corrected. The US Penguin Press edition (around 6 February 2018) preceded the UK Hamish Hamilton edition (8 February 2018) by a couple of days, making the US printing the true first. The two are very close, so both should be regarded as significant.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are identified by a number line that no longer ends in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Feel Free: Essays a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Essay collection arranged in five sections. The US Penguin Press hardcover carries the full number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page; cloth-backed boards in dust jacket. The UK Hamish Hamilton hardcover is a closely contemporaneous but slightly later issue.
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. Precedence corrected. The US Penguin Press edition (around 6 February 2018) preceded the UK Hamish Hamilton edition (8 February 2018) by a couple of days, making the US printing the true first. The two are very close, so both should be regarded as significant.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings are identified by a number line that no longer ends in 1.
I have a first edition of Feel Free: Essays — 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.