# Is "Quicksilver" by Neal Stephenson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow, 2003) is identified by: Morrow hardcover with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and a full number line descending to 1. 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.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neal Stephenson |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 2003 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Morrow hardcover with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and a full number line descending to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Quicksilver* by Neal Stephenson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/quicksilver
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.