The points of issue
Identify the Canadian first printing by the number line, not by printed words. McClelland & Stewart, Toronto, 2003 (ISBN 0771008686 / 9780771008689), grey boards with gilt spine lettering, around 378 pages. The first printing carries a complete number line beginning with 1 (dealers cite the full line 1 2 3 4 5, that is, including the 1). The first-state dust jacket is unclipped with the price on the front flap. Do not rely on a stated First Edition line: M&S hardcovers of this era are generally identified by the number line rather than printed words.
Is this the true first?
Canadian M&S edition is the true first, preceding the US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday and UK Bloomsbury editions (both 2003). First book of the MaddAddam trilogy; shortlisted for the 2003 Booker Prize.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club issue; the collectible distinction is national precedence over the US and UK printings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Oryx and Crake a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Identify the Canadian first printing by the number line, not by printed words. McClelland & Stewart, Toronto, 2003 (ISBN 0771008686 / 9780771008689), grey boards with gilt spine lettering, around 378 pages. The first printing carries a complete number line beginning with 1 (dealers cite the full line 1 2 3 4 5, that is, including the 1). The first-state dust jacket is unclipped with the price on the front flap. Do not rely on a stated First Edition line: M&S hardcovers of this era are generally identified by the number line rather than printed words.
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. Canadian M&S edition is the true first, preceding the US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday and UK Bloomsbury editions (both 2003). First book of the MaddAddam trilogy; shortlisted for the 2003 Booker Prize.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club issue; the collectible distinction is national precedence over the US and UK printings.
I have a first edition of Oryx and Crake — 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.