The points of issue
US Del Rey and UK HarperVoyager hardcovers were released simultaneously on 12 August 2014. First printings of both carry a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
Genuinely simultaneous US and UK publication on 12 August 2014; the two hardcovers are treated as co-firsts with neither having precedence.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line; check the full number line rather than the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Fool's Assassin (The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy 1) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Del Rey and UK HarperVoyager hardcovers were released simultaneously on 12 August 2014. First printings of both carry a 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. Genuinely simultaneous US and UK publication on 12 August 2014; the two hardcovers are treated as co-firsts with neither having precedence.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line; check the full number line rather than the jacket.
I have a first edition of Fool's Assassin (The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy 1) — 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.