The points of issue
Essays/memoir (Swift's first non-fiction). Hardback in boards with gilt spine lettering; full number line; dust jacket with UK price.
Is this the true first?
UK Picador (2009) is the first edition; US Knopf followed in 2009.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions are stated on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Making an Elephant: Writing from Within a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Essays/memoir (Swift's first non-fiction). Hardback in boards with gilt spine lettering; full number line; dust jacket with UK price.
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. UK Picador (2009) is the first edition; US Knopf followed in 2009.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions are stated on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Making an Elephant: Writing from Within — 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.