# Is "La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust 1)" by Philip Pullman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust 1) by Philip Pullman (David Fickling Books, 2017) is identified by: UK David Fickling Books first and US Knopf first were both published October 19, 2017 (a true simultaneous release), so neither has world-first precedence. The UK David Fickling and US Knopf editions were published simultaneously on October 19, 2017 — neither precedes the other.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK David Fickling Books first and US Knopf first were both published October 19, 2017 (a true simultaneous release), so neither has world-first precedence
- The two are typeset separately: the UK edition runs about 546 pages with British spellings; the US Knopf edition runs about 449 pages
- On each, a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page indicates the first printing, with the first-state jacket price unclipped
- A signed first issue exists
- Publisher imprint reads David Fickling Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Philip Pullman |
| Publisher | David Fickling Books |
| Year | 2017 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | UK David Fickling Books first and US Knopf first were both published October 19, 2017 (a… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
UK David Fickling Books first and US Knopf first were both published October 19, 2017 (a true simultaneous release), so neither has world-first precedence. The two are typeset separately: the UK edition runs about 546 pages with British spellings; the US Knopf edition runs about 449 pages. On each, a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page indicates the first printing, with the first-state jacket price unclipped. A signed first issue exists.

## Is this the true first?
The UK David Fickling and US Knopf editions were published simultaneously on October 19, 2017 — neither precedes the other. Companion/prequel trilogy to His Dark Materials. Collectors distinguish the two by page count and text state (about 546 pages UK vs about 449 pages US) rather than by priority.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings advance the number line. UK and US are distinct simultaneous issues, not one preceding the other.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust 1)* by Philip Pullman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/la-belle-sauvage-book-of-dust-1
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.