The points of issue
Identified by the number line on the copyright page rather than by a printed First Edition slug. The true first printing carries a complete number line whose lowest number is 1; a later printing drops the line so it ends at 3. Grey cloth hardcover with the original printed price on the front jacket flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Modern Library (Random House) hardcover of 2008 is the true first edition. This is the consolidated and revised single-volume rendering of the Watson trilogy. It won the 2008 National Book Award for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition is recorded. Confirm the first printing by the number line ending in or containing 1 rather than by any stated-edition wording.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Shadow Country a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Identified by the number line on the copyright page rather than by a printed First Edition slug. The true first printing carries a complete number line whose lowest number is 1; a later printing drops the line so it ends at 3. Grey cloth hardcover with the original printed price on the front jacket flap.
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 Modern Library (Random House) hardcover of 2008 is the true first edition. This is the consolidated and revised single-volume rendering of the Watson trilogy. It won the 2008 National Book Award for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book-club edition is recorded. Confirm the first printing by the number line ending in or containing 1 rather than by any stated-edition wording.
I have a first edition of Shadow Country — 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.