The points of issue
Slim collection of six essays written during the early COVID-19 lockdown; issued as a paperback original in wrappers with the full number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
Issued as paperback originals on both sides of the Atlantic in 2020; the US Penguin Books printing (late July) slightly preceded the UK Penguin printing (early August), but the two are effectively contemporaneous.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No hardcover first edition; later printings show a number line that no longer ends in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Intimations: Six Essays a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Slim collection of six essays written during the early COVID-19 lockdown; issued as a paperback original in wrappers with the full number line counting down to 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. Issued as paperback originals on both sides of the Atlantic in 2020; the US Penguin Books printing (late July) slightly preceded the UK Penguin printing (early August), but the two are effectively contemporaneous.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No hardcover first edition; later printings show a number line that no longer ends in 1.
I have a first edition of Intimations: Six Essays — 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.