The points of issue
Black cloth boards, gilt spine titling; full number line ending in 1 and 'first published' statement on copyright page.
Is this the true first?
UK Jonathan Cape (2010) precedes the US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday edition (2010).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints/later impressions state the impression number in place of the 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Solar a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Black cloth boards, gilt spine titling; full number line ending in 1 and 'first published' statement on copyright page.
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. UK Jonathan Cape (2010) precedes the US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday edition (2010).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints/later impressions state the impression number in place of the 1.
I have a first edition of Solar — 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.