# Is "Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders" by Neil Gaiman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman (William Morrow, 2006) is identified by: The US William Morrow (HarperCollins) hardcover, dated 2006, is a first edition/first printing when the copyright-page number line runs complete to 1 (descending 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1) with First Edition stated. US Morrow and UK Headline are co-firsts of 2006, published effectively simultaneously (Headline dated September 25, 2006; Morrow September 26).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The US William Morrow (HarperCollins) hardcover, dated 2006, is a first edition/first printing when the copyright-page number line runs complete to 1 (descending 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1) with First Edition stated
- Bound in white pictorial boards with the design printed in blue, purple and black, and light blue endpapers and pastedowns; the first-issue dust jacket should retain the printed price on the front flap
- The UK Headline Review hardcover was published essentially simultaneously in late September 2006, and its contents differ slightly from the US text
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Gaiman |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 2006 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The US William Morrow (HarperCollins) hardcover, dated 2006, is a first edition/first printing when the copyright-page number line runs… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Story collection. The US William Morrow (HarperCollins) hardcover, dated 2006, is a first edition/first printing when the copyright-page number line runs complete to 1 (descending 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1) with First Edition stated. Bound in white pictorial boards with the design printed in blue, purple and black, and light blue endpapers and pastedowns; the first-issue dust jacket should retain the printed price on the front flap. The UK Headline Review hardcover was published essentially simultaneously in late September 2006, and its contents differ slightly from the US text.

## Is this the true first?
US Morrow and UK Headline are co-firsts of 2006, published effectively simultaneously (Headline dated September 25, 2006; Morrow September 26). Because the US and UK contents differ slightly, each is the true first of its own text; collectors of the American author generally cite the Morrow printing.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings show a number line that no longer descends to 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders* by Neil Gaiman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/fragile-things-short-fictions-and-wonders
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.