The points of issue
Issued by Sceptre as a trade-paperback original in stiff card wraps; full number line including 1 on the copyright page confirms the first printing. Booker-shortlisted.
Is this the true first?
The UK Sceptre trade-paperback original (2001) is the true first; the US Random House hardcover followed in February 2002.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line and/or state the impression.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of number9dream a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Issued by Sceptre as a trade-paperback original in stiff card wraps; full number line including 1 on the copyright page confirms the first printing. Booker-shortlisted.
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 Sceptre trade-paperback original (2001) is the true first; the US Random House hardcover followed in February 2002.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line and/or state the impression.
I have a first edition of number9dream — 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.