The points of issue
"First Edition" stated with the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page; trade jacket carries the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Henry Holt is the true first; UK Jonathan Cape followed in 1997.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are stated; club copies lack the full first-printing number line and the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mason & Dixon a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Edition" stated with the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page; trade jacket carries the printed 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. US Henry Holt is the true first; UK Jonathan Cape followed in 1997.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings are stated; club copies lack the full first-printing number line and the jacket price.
I have a first edition of Mason & Dixon — 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.