The points of issue
Discworld 38; Tiffany Aching 4. UK Doubleday, published 2 September 2010. First printing shows the Doubleday countdown number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
UK Doubleday (2 September 2010) is the true first; the US Harper edition followed on 28 September 2010.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings show a number line that no longer reaches 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of I Shall Wear Midnight a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Discworld 38; Tiffany Aching 4. UK Doubleday, published 2 September 2010. First printing shows the Doubleday countdown number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
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 (2 September 2010) is the true first; the US Harper edition followed on 28 September 2010.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings show a number line that no longer reaches 1.
I have a first edition of I Shall Wear Midnight — 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.