# Is "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (W.W. Norton, 2017) is identified by: Norton and UK Bloomsbury hardcovers, February 2017; the Norton first printing carries the full number line ending in 1. US Norton / UK Bloomsbury co-first 2017.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US W.W. Norton and UK Bloomsbury hardcovers, February 2017; the Norton first printing carries the full number line ending in 1
- The Norton edition is bound in black cloth over boards with gilt spine lettering and runs 293 pages including a glossary; its glossy black dust jacket bears a gilt hammer illustration on the front panel with gilt title and author lettering
- A first-issue jacket retains its printed price and should be unclipped
- Publisher imprint reads W.W. Norton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Gaiman |
| Publisher | W.W. Norton |
| Year | 2017 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US W.W. Norton and UK Bloomsbury hardcovers, February 2017; the Norton first printing carries the full number line ending in 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
US W.W. Norton and UK Bloomsbury hardcovers, February 2017; the Norton first printing carries the full number line ending in 1. The Norton edition is bound in black cloth over boards with gilt spine lettering and runs 293 pages including a glossary; its glossy black dust jacket bears a gilt hammer illustration on the front panel with gilt title and author lettering. A first-issue jacket retains its printed price and should be unclipped.

## Is this the true first?
US Norton / UK Bloomsbury co-first 2017.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings advance the number line so the 1 drops off; a first printing shows the complete line ending in 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Norse Mythology* by Neil Gaiman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/norse-mythology
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.