The points of issue
Published in both New York and London in 1998. The US first printing states First Edition with a full number line including 1. A US signed limited issue of 150 numbered copies plus 26 lettered, slipcased, was also published by HarperCollins in 1998.
Is this the true first?
US and UK HarperCollins editions both appeared in 1998; the official Barker bibliography lists the US edition ahead of the UK, though month-level precedence is not firmly documented.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies lack the jacket price and the full number line and are typically smaller than the trade edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Galilee a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Published in both New York and London in 1998. The US first printing states First Edition with a full number line including 1. A US signed limited issue of 150 numbered copies plus 26 lettered, slipcased, was also published by HarperCollins in 1998.
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. US and UK HarperCollins editions both appeared in 1998; the official Barker bibliography lists the US edition ahead of the UK, though month-level precedence is not firmly documented.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies lack the jacket price and the full number line and are typically smaller than the trade edition.
I have a first edition of Galilee — 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.