The points of issue
Hardcover in boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket priced accordingly. UK first issued under ISBN 1856196968.
Is this the true first?
The UK Sinclair-Stevenson edition of 1996 is the true first and precedes the US edition (Nan A. Talese / Doubleday, 1997).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions and the Vintage paperback are reprints and do not precede the Sinclair-Stevenson first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Milton in America a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover in boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket priced accordingly. UK first issued under ISBN 1856196968.
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 UK Sinclair-Stevenson edition of 1996 is the true first and precedes the US edition (Nan A. Talese / Doubleday, 1997).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions and the Vintage paperback are reprints and do not precede the Sinclair-Stevenson first.
I have a first edition of Milton in America — 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.