The points of issue
Opera libretto for Michael Berkeley's opera; Vintage paperback original (ISBN 9780099526995). Issued in 2008 in two forms: a signed/numbered limited issue of 1000 copies (signed by McEwan and Berkeley on the title page) and the ordinary trade paperback. A minor title in the McEwan canon.
Is this the true first?
Both forms are Vintage 2008. The signed/numbered limited issue of 1000 copies is the precedence point and ranks ahead of the ordinary trade paperback.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of For You a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Opera libretto for Michael Berkeley's opera; Vintage paperback original (ISBN 9780099526995). Issued in 2008 in two forms: a signed/numbered limited issue of 1000 copies (signed by McEwan and Berkeley on the title page) and the ordinary trade paperback. A minor title in the McEwan canon.
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. Both forms are Vintage 2008. The signed/numbered limited issue of 1000 copies is the precedence point and ranks ahead of the ordinary trade paperback.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition.
I have a first edition of For You — 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.