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First-Edition Identification · Julian Barnes

Is My Nothing to Be Frightened Of a First Edition?

Jonathan Cape, 2008

The points of issue

Memoir/meditation on death; cloth-backed pictorial boards, gilt spine lettering; full number line descending to 1 with Cape 'First published' statement; dust jacket priced 16.99 net.

Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder · Jonathan Cape first-edition guide.

Is this the true first?

UK Cape (2008) precedes US Knopf (2008) and Random House Canada (2008).

Telling it from reprints & book-club editions

Reprints state the later impression.

Frequently asked questions

Is my copy of Nothing to Be Frightened Of a first edition?

Look for these first-edition points: Memoir/meditation on death; cloth-backed pictorial boards, gilt spine lettering; full number line descending to 1 with Cape 'First published' statement; dust jacket priced 16.99 net.

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 Cape (2008) precedes US Knopf (2008) and Random House Canada (2008).

Is the book-club edition the same as the first?

Reprints state the later impression.

I have a first edition of Nothing to Be Frightened Of — 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.

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