The points of issue
UK Hodder Children's Books first printing with a full number line counting down to 1; true-first jacket bears NO Carnegie Medal or Whitbread award sticker, as those were awarded in 1998/1999.
Is this the true first?
The UK Hodder Children's Books edition of 1998 is the true first worldwide; it precedes the US Delacorte edition of 1999. The book won the 1998 Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US Delacorte edition is a separate first-American printing, not the true first; later UK printings add award stickers to the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Skellig a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Hodder Children's Books first printing with a full number line counting down to 1; true-first jacket bears NO Carnegie Medal or Whitbread award sticker, as those were awarded in 1998/1999.
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 Hodder Children's Books edition of 1998 is the true first worldwide; it precedes the US Delacorte edition of 1999. The book won the 1998 Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US Delacorte edition is a separate first-American printing, not the true first; later UK printings add award stickers to the jacket.
I have a first edition of Skellig — 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.