The points of issue
Discworld 33; Moist von Lipwig 1. UK Doubleday 2004; number line to 1.
Is this the true first?
UK Doubleday true first (25 September 2004); the US HarperCollins edition followed days later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Going Postal a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Discworld 33; Moist von Lipwig 1. UK Doubleday 2004; number line to 1.
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. UK Doubleday true first (25 September 2004); the US HarperCollins edition followed days later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
I have a first edition of Going Postal — 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.