The points of issue
UK Bloomsbury first edition (8 July 2000): the copyright page states 'First Edition' but carries NO number line (unlike the earlier Bloomsbury Potter titles). Bloomsbury imprint at the foot of the title page; ISBN 0 7475 4624 X. The US Scholastic first is a separate book stating 'First American edition' with a number line ending in 1.
Is this the true first?
The UK Bloomsbury edition is the true first. A simultaneously issued adult-jacket Bloomsbury edition also exists. Note the print run was split between Clays (England) and Omnia (Scotland).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note. Later/large-print and book-club printings differ; the defining check is the 'First Edition' statement with the Bloomsbury imprint and ISBN 0 7475 4624 X.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Bloomsbury first edition (8 July 2000): the copyright page states 'First Edition' but carries NO number line (unlike the earlier Bloomsbury Potter titles). Bloomsbury imprint at the foot of the title page; ISBN 0 7475 4624 X. The US Scholastic first is a separate book stating 'First American edition' with a number line ending in 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. The UK Bloomsbury edition is the true first. A simultaneously issued adult-jacket Bloomsbury edition also exists. Note the print run was split between Clays (England) and Omnia (Scotland).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of note. Later/large-print and book-club printings differ; the defining check is the 'First Edition' statement with the Bloomsbury imprint and ISBN 0 7475 4624 X.
I have a first edition of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire — 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.