# Is "Fool's Assassin (The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy 1)" by Robin Hobb a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Fool's Assassin (The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy 1) by Robin Hobb (Del Rey, 2014) is identified by: US Del Rey (ISBN 9780553392425) and UK HarperVoyager hardcovers were released simultaneously on 12 August 2014. Genuinely simultaneous US and UK publication on 12 August 2014; the two hardcovers are treated as co-firsts with neither having precedence.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Del Rey (ISBN 9780553392425) and UK HarperVoyager hardcovers were released simultaneously on 12 August 2014
- The Del Rey first printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and is stated 'First Edition'; it is issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket that should retain the printed price on the flap unless clipped
- Publisher imprint reads Del Rey
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robin Hobb |
| Publisher | Del Rey |
| Year | 2014 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Del Rey (ISBN 9780553392425) and UK HarperVoyager hardcovers were released simultaneously on 12 August 2014 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
US Del Rey (ISBN 9780553392425) and UK HarperVoyager hardcovers were released simultaneously on 12 August 2014. The Del Rey first printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and is stated 'First Edition'; it is issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket that should retain the printed price on the flap unless clipped.

## 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 on the copyright page rather than the jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Fool's Assassin (The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy 1)* by Robin Hobb a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/fools-assassin-the-fitz-and-the-fool-trilogy-1
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.