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First-Edition Identification · Jack McDevitt

Is My Seeker a First Edition?

Ace Books, 2005

The points of issue

Ace Books hardcover, first printing (published November 2005). Copyright page carries a stated First Edition line with a full number line counting down to 1. Priced dust jacket; publisher's boards. ISBN 0-441-01329-5.

Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder.

Is this the true first?

The US Ace 2005 hardcover is the true first edition. (An Easton Press signed limited edition also appeared in 2005 as a separate collectible issue.)

Telling it from reprints & book-club editions

The Science Fiction Book Club edition is distinguishable by an unpriced jacket, a blind-stamp gutter dot on the rear board, and the absence of the Ace number line.

Frequently asked questions

Is my copy of Seeker a first edition?

Look for these first-edition points: Ace Books hardcover, first printing (published November 2005). Copyright page carries a stated First Edition line with a full number line counting down to 1. Priced dust jacket; publisher's boards. ISBN 0-441-01329-5.

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 Ace 2005 hardcover is the true first edition. (An Easton Press signed limited edition also appeared in 2005 as a separate collectible issue.)

Is the book-club edition the same as the first?

The Science Fiction Book Club edition is distinguishable by an unpriced jacket, a blind-stamp gutter dot on the rear board, and the absence of the Ace number line.

I have a first edition of Seeker — 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.

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