The points of issue
Viking first printing: full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (a complete number line down to 1). Issued in quarter-cloth boards with gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Viking 2005 edition is the true first. A complete number line ending in 1 confirms the first printing. Winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The UK Fourth Estate edition is a separate printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the complete number line and typically carry a rear-board blind-stamp with an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of March a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Viking first printing: full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (a complete number line down to 1). Issued in quarter-cloth boards with gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price on the front flap.
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 Viking 2005 edition is the true first. A complete number line ending in 1 confirms the first printing. Winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The UK Fourth Estate edition is a separate printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issues lack the complete number line and typically carry a rear-board blind-stamp with an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of March — 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.