The points of issue
Hardcover in publisher's cloth-covered boards with gilt spine, in dust jacket with the price present on the flap. The first impression shows a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 1989 is the true first, preceding the US Grove Weidenfeld edition of 1989.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions break the number line or state a higher impression.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of First Light a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover in publisher's cloth-covered boards with gilt spine, in dust jacket with the price present on the flap. The first impression shows a full descending number line ending in 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 Hamish Hamilton edition of 1989 is the true first, preceding the US Grove Weidenfeld edition of 1989.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions break the number line or state a higher impression.
I have a first edition of First Light — 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.