The points of issue
First UK edition in boards with gilt-lettered spine and dust jacket; complete number line descending to 1; dust jacket priced £25.00 net.
Is this the true first?
Jonathan Cape (London) and US Random House both issued the memoir in September 2012 (18 September); treat as near-simultaneous, with the Cape edition the UK first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry an impression statement; the true first shows the full number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Joseph Anton: A Memoir a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition in boards with gilt-lettered spine and dust jacket; complete number line descending to 1; dust jacket priced £25.00 net.
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. Jonathan Cape (London) and US Random House both issued the memoir in September 2012 (18 September); treat as near-simultaneous, with the Cape edition the UK first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry an impression statement; the true first shows the full number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of Joseph Anton: A Memoir — 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.