The points of issue
Discworld 31. UK Doubleday 2003; original boards, dust jacket; copyright page number line running down to 1.
Is this the true first?
UK Doubleday true first (late September 2003); the US HarperCollins edition followed within days in a near-simultaneous release.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Monstrous Regiment a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Discworld 31. UK Doubleday 2003; original boards, dust jacket; copyright page number line running down to 1.
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. UK Doubleday true first (late September 2003); the US HarperCollins edition followed within days in a near-simultaneous release.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
I have a first edition of Monstrous Regiment — 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.