The points of issue
Issued in stiff card wraps (a trade paperback original; no UK hardcover was published); full number line including 1 confirms the first printing. Mitchell's debut.
Is this the true first?
The UK Sceptre trade-paperback original (1999) is the true first; the US Random House hardcover also appeared in 1999. Signed copies are sought.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US Random House first printing begins its number line at 2 per house convention; the UK Sceptre first printing carries a number line including 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ghostwritten: A Novel in Nine Parts a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Issued in stiff card wraps (a trade paperback original; no UK hardcover was published); full number line including 1 confirms the first printing. Mitchell's debut.
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. The UK Sceptre trade-paperback original (1999) is the true first; the US Random House hardcover also appeared in 1999. Signed copies are sought.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US Random House first printing begins its number line at 2 per house convention; the UK Sceptre first printing carries a number line including 1.
I have a first edition of Ghostwritten: A Novel in Nine Parts — 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.