The points of issue
Headline (UK) first edition hardcover, 1995; full number line on the copyright page. The first US hardcover was the Overlook Connection Press edition of 2002, which followed the UK edition.
Is this the true first?
The UK Headline hardcover of 1995 is the true first; the US Overlook Connection hardcover of 2002 and other limited issues are first-thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book club issue is recorded; distinguish the hardcover first from later UK and US paperback reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Red a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Headline (UK) first edition hardcover, 1995; full number line on the copyright page. The first US hardcover was the Overlook Connection Press edition of 2002, which followed the UK edition.
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 UK Headline hardcover of 1995 is the true first; the US Overlook Connection hardcover of 2002 and other limited issues are first-thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book club issue is recorded; distinguish the hardcover first from later UK and US paperback reprints.
I have a first edition of Red — 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.