The points of issue
First printing states "First edition, 2014" on the copyright page with a complete number line that includes the numeral 1. The dust jacket carries the original printed price. Third novel of the Gilead cycle; winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Is this the true first?
The US Farrar, Straus and Giroux edition (2014) is the true first. The UK Virago edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line or state a higher printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lila a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing states "First edition, 2014" on the copyright page with a complete number line that includes the numeral 1. The dust jacket carries the original printed price. Third novel of the Gilead cycle; winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award.
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 Farrar, Straus and Giroux edition (2014) is the true first. The UK Virago edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line or state a higher printing.
I have a first edition of Lila — 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.