The points of issue
Discworld 40; Moist von Lipwig 3. UK Doubleday 2013. First printing shows the Doubleday countdown number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
UK Doubleday (2013) is the true first; the US Doubleday edition did not appear until March 2014, with Anchor issuing the paperback.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings show a number line that no longer reaches 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Raising Steam a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Discworld 40; Moist von Lipwig 3. UK Doubleday 2013. First printing shows the Doubleday countdown number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
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. UK Doubleday (2013) is the true first; the US Doubleday edition did not appear until March 2014, with Anchor issuing the paperback.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings show a number line that no longer reaches 1.
I have a first edition of Raising Steam — 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.