The points of issue
Black cloth with silver titling to the spine; pictorial/illustrated endpapers; full number line ending in 1; priced dust jacket. 404 pages.
Is this the true first?
The UK Bloomsbury edition of 2000 is the true first, preceding the US Grove Press edition (also 2000).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add an impression statement or drop the 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of How the Dead Live a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Black cloth with silver titling to the spine; pictorial/illustrated endpapers; full number line ending in 1; priced dust jacket. 404 pages.
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 2000 is the true first, preceding the US Grove Press edition (also 2000).
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 How the Dead Live — 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.