The points of issue
UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition: part of the 'Science Masters' series; jacket priced in pounds sterling. US Basic Books edition: copyright page reading 'First Edition' with a number line including the digit 1; jacket carries the printed price. Illustrated by Lalla Ward.
Is this the true first?
Both the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson and the US Basic Books editions appeared in 1995 as part of the international Science Masters series; the UK edition is generally regarded as the true first, though the interval is short. Confirm priority by imprint and jacket pricing rather than year alone.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue of note. The key distinction is UK-first versus US-first within the same year, identified by the Weidenfeld imprint and a sterling-priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition: part of the 'Science Masters' series; jacket priced in pounds sterling. US Basic Books edition: copyright page reading 'First Edition' with a number line including the digit 1; jacket carries the printed price. Illustrated by Lalla Ward.
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. Both the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson and the US Basic Books editions appeared in 1995 as part of the international Science Masters series; the UK edition is generally regarded as the true first, though the interval is short. Confirm priority by imprint and jacket pricing rather than year alone.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue of note. The key distinction is UK-first versus US-first within the same year, identified by the Weidenfeld imprint and a sterling-priced jacket.
I have a first edition of River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life — 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.