The points of issue
O'Connell's debut, Kathleen Mallory #1. The true first is the UK Hutchinson edition, published May 1994, which precedes the US G. P. Putnam's Sons edition (August 1994) by roughly three months. The UK first reads 'First published 1994' by Hutchinson. The US Putnam edition is an Edgar-nominated first American edition but is a first-thus, not the true first.
Is this the true first?
Precedence resolved: UK Hutchinson (May 1994) is the true first; US G. P. Putnam's Sons (August 1994) follows and is the first American edition. The record originally listed Putnam as the first edition, which is incorrect for true-first precedence.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the price and may carry a code; later printings of either edition are not firsts.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mallory's Oracle a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: O'Connell's debut, Kathleen Mallory #1. The true first is the UK Hutchinson edition, published May 1994, which precedes the US G. P. Putnam's Sons edition (August 1994) by roughly three months. The UK first reads 'First published 1994' by Hutchinson. The US Putnam edition is an Edgar-nominated first American edition but is a first-thus, not the true first.
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. Precedence resolved: UK Hutchinson (May 1994) is the true first; US G. P. Putnam's Sons (August 1994) follows and is the first American edition. The record originally listed Putnam as the first edition, which is incorrect for true-first precedence.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the price and may carry a code; later printings of either edition are not firsts.
I have a first edition of Mallory's Oracle — 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.