The points of issue
First UK Gollancz hardcover, June 1988, in the characteristic yellow Gollancz jacket with the printed price on the flap. Concludes the Sprawl trilogy.
Is this the true first?
The UK Gollancz hardcover is the true first, preceding the US Bantam Spectra edition (also 1988); the Gollancz appeared first chronologically.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Bantam and US book-club editions follow; a club edition carries a gutter blindstamp and an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mona Lisa Overdrive a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK Gollancz hardcover, June 1988, in the characteristic yellow Gollancz jacket with the printed price on the flap. Concludes the Sprawl trilogy.
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 Gollancz hardcover is the true first, preceding the US Bantam Spectra edition (also 1988); the Gollancz appeared first chronologically.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US Bantam and US book-club editions follow; a club edition carries a gutter blindstamp and an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket.
I have a first edition of Mona Lisa Overdrive — 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.