The points of issue
UK BBC Books first hardcover with Dave McKean jacket; copyright page reads 'First published 1996 by BBC Books' with no later-printing line.
Is this the true first?
The UK BBC Books edition (1996) is the true first. The US Avon edition (1997) is a later, textually different version: Gaiman revised it for American readers, adding and cutting material, so the BBC and Avon texts differ.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of the BBC first is the trap; later trade-paperback printings (different printing statement) are the common reprints. Distinguish the BBC hardcover from the BBC paperback and the Avon US hardcover.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Neverwhere a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK BBC Books first hardcover with Dave McKean jacket; copyright page reads 'First published 1996 by BBC Books' with no later-printing line.
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 BBC Books edition (1996) is the true first. The US Avon edition (1997) is a later, textually different version: Gaiman revised it for American readers, adding and cutting material, so the BBC and Avon texts differ.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of the BBC first is the trap; later trade-paperback printings (different printing statement) are the common reprints. Distinguish the BBC hardcover from the BBC paperback and the Avon US hardcover.
I have a first edition of Neverwhere — 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.