The points of issue
Putnam US hardcover with a full number line ending in 1. Viking UK hardcover also dated 2007, with the number 1 present in the impression line.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam (August 2007) and UK Viking are both dated 2007; the US Putnam is the conventionally cited first. Blue Ant trilogy volume 2.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Issued as a trade hardcover; no significant book-club printing is noted.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Spook Country a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Putnam US hardcover with a full number line ending in 1. Viking UK hardcover also dated 2007, with the number 1 present in the impression line.
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. US Putnam (August 2007) and UK Viking are both dated 2007; the US Putnam is the conventionally cited first. Blue Ant trilogy volume 2.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Issued as a trade hardcover; no significant book-club printing is noted.
I have a first edition of Spook 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.