The points of issue
Copyright page states "First edition, 2004" with a full FSG number line beginning with 1. Bound in quarter cloth. First-state jacket carries the printed price and no Pulitzer announcement printed on it. Published well after Robinson's debut, Housekeeping.
Is this the true first?
The US FSG printing is the true first; the UK Virago edition (2005) follows. Signed copies are sought after.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings state a higher printing number and shorten the number line; later-state jackets may add the Pulitzer win. The true first has the complete number line beginning with 1 and a clean first-state jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Gilead a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states "First edition, 2004" with a full FSG number line beginning with 1. Bound in quarter cloth. First-state jacket carries the printed price and no Pulitzer announcement printed on it. Published well after Robinson's debut, Housekeeping.
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 US FSG printing is the true first; the UK Virago edition (2005) follows. Signed copies are sought after.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings state a higher printing number and shorten the number line; later-state jackets may add the Pulitzer win. The true first has the complete number line beginning with 1 and a clean first-state jacket.
I have a first edition of Gilead — 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.