The points of issue
US Scribner's first edition: copyright page dated 1990 with the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Quarter black cloth over red paper-covered boards, gilt spine lettering; first-issue jacket with the printed price on the front flap. 293 pp.
Is this the true first?
Cornwell's debut and the first Kay Scarpetta novel; won the 1991 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The recognized true first edition is the US Charles Scribner's Sons printing (US publication preceded the UK). A UK Macdonald (London) edition also appeared in 1990 in a small printing and is highly sought, but the earlier claim that the UK edition is the 'true first' is contested and not the standard view; both editions are scarce in the first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition lacks the full number line to 1 and the priced flap, is on lighter bulked paper, and often shows a blind-stamped dot or depression on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Postmortem a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Scribner's first edition: copyright page dated 1990 with the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Quarter black cloth over red paper-covered boards, gilt spine lettering; first-issue jacket with the printed price on the front flap. 293 pp.
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. Cornwell's debut and the first Kay Scarpetta novel; won the 1991 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The recognized true first edition is the US Charles Scribner's Sons printing (US publication preceded the UK). A UK Macdonald (London) edition also appeared in 1990 in a small printing and is highly so
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition lacks the full number line to 1 and the priced flap, is on lighter bulked paper, and often shows a blind-stamped dot or depression on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Postmortem — 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.