The points of issue
Boards with gilt titling to the spine; full number line ending in 1; priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The UK Bloomsbury edition of 1997 is the true first, preceding the US Grove Press edition (also 1997).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add an impression statement or drop the 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Great Apes a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Boards with gilt titling to the spine; full number line ending in 1; priced dust jacket.
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 Bloomsbury edition of 1997 is the true first, preceding the US Grove Press edition (also 1997).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions add an impression statement or drop the 1.
I have a first edition of Great Apes — 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.