The points of issue
Crown first printing: copyright page states 'First Edition' AND has a number line descending to 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'). All printings may say 'First Edition,' so the NUMBER LINE ending in 1 is the deciding point. Dust jacket priced the printed price; published June 5, 2012.
Is this the true first?
US Crown 2012 is the true first, concurrent with/preceding the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition. The US first-printing (line to 1) is the collectible; later printings (line not reaching 1) are not.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No traditional cloth BCE; the controlling distinction is the number line. Later printings retain 'First Edition' on the copyright page but show a number line that does NOT reach 1. Signed first printings command a premium.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Gone Girl a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Crown first printing: copyright page states 'First Edition' AND has a number line descending to 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'). All printings may say 'First Edition,' so the NUMBER LINE ending in 1 is the deciding point. Dust jacket priced the printed price; published June 5, 2012.
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 Crown 2012 is the true first, concurrent with/preceding the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition. The US first-printing (line to 1) is the collectible; later printings (line not reaching 1) are not.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No traditional cloth BCE; the controlling distinction is the number line. Later printings retain 'First Edition' on the copyright page but show a number line that does NOT reach 1. Signed first printings command a premium.
I have a first edition of Gone Girl — 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.