The points of issue
Morrow hardcover with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and a full number line descending to 1. Volume one of The Baroque Cycle. First-issue binding is light blue paper boards with a tan cloth spine.
Is this the true first?
The US Morrow hardcover, published September 23, 2003, is the true first; the UK Heinemann edition followed about ten days later on October 2, 2003.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Trade only; no book-club edition of consequence. A separate limited/signed issue also exists alongside the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Quicksilver a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Morrow hardcover with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and a full number line descending to 1. Volume one of The Baroque Cycle. First-issue binding is light blue paper boards with a tan cloth spine.
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 US Morrow hardcover, published September 23, 2003, is the true first; the UK Heinemann edition followed about ten days later on October 2, 2003.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Trade only; no book-club edition of consequence. A separate limited/signed issue also exists alongside the trade first.
I have a first edition of Quicksilver — 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.