The points of issue
Trade paperback original in glossy stiff-card pictorial wrappers under the pseudonym Stephen Bury, cover art by Bruce Jensen, stating First Edition on the copyright page. About 583 pages.
Is this the true first?
The US Bantam trade paperback original (1994) is the true first; no hardcover issue was produced. Written by Neal Stephenson with his uncle George Jewsbury under the joint pseudonym Stephen Bury.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later editions credited to Stephenson and George (and a UK hardcover) are not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Interface a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Trade paperback original in glossy stiff-card pictorial wrappers under the pseudonym Stephen Bury, cover art by Bruce Jensen, stating First Edition on the copyright page. About 583 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 US Bantam trade paperback original (1994) is the true first; no hardcover issue was produced. Written by Neal Stephenson with his uncle George Jewsbury under the joint pseudonym Stephen Bury.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later editions credited to Stephenson and George (and a UK hardcover) are not the first.
I have a first edition of Interface — 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.