The points of issue
Small octavo hardcover from McPherson & Company, Kingston, with the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page. First-state dust jacket has no National Book Award reference and carries the original printed price on the front flap. The pre-award first printing was very small before the award triggered reprints.
Is this the true first?
The US McPherson & Company hardcover of 2010 is the true first edition. It won the 2010 National Book Award for Fiction. The original first printing is genuinely scarce, with a Vintage trade paperback following.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The scarcity lies in the small original print run. Confirm the McPherson imprint, the number line, and a first-state jacket with no award reference.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lord of Misrule a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Small octavo hardcover from McPherson & Company, Kingston, with the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page. First-state dust jacket has no National Book Award reference and carries the original printed price on the front flap. The pre-award first printing was very small before the award triggered reprints.
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 McPherson & Company hardcover of 2010 is the true first edition. It won the 2010 National Book Award for Fiction. The original first printing is genuinely scarce, with a Vintage trade paperback following.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The scarcity lies in the small original print run. Confirm the McPherson imprint, the number line, and a first-state jacket with no award reference.
I have a first edition of Lord of Misrule — 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.