The points of issue
First edition was the Bantam Spectra trade PAPERBACK; first printing has the full number line ending in '1.' A simultaneous/near-simultaneous hardcover issue exists but is extremely scarce.
Is this the true first?
The Bantam Spectra trade paperback is the true first edition; the hardcover first issue is far scarcer and more valuable but the paperback has priority as the published first format. Verify the number line ends in 1.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings have number lines not ending in 1. Reissue editions with different covers are obviously later.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Snow Crash a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition was the Bantam Spectra trade PAPERBACK; first printing has the full number line ending in '1.' A simultaneous/near-simultaneous hardcover issue exists but is extremely scarce.
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 Bantam Spectra trade paperback is the true first edition; the hardcover first issue is far scarcer and more valuable but the paperback has priority as the published first format. Verify the number line ends in 1.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings have number lines not ending in 1. Reissue editions with different covers are obviously later.
I have a first edition of Snow Crash — 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.