The points of issue
Boards with gilt spine lettering; full number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced. Third volume of the Seasonal Quartet, published 28 March 2019.
Is this the true first?
UK Hamish Hamilton (March 2019) precedes the US Pantheon edition (2019).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions state the impression number on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Spring a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Boards with gilt spine lettering; full number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced. Third volume of the Seasonal Quartet, published 28 March 2019.
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 Hamish Hamilton (March 2019) precedes the US Pantheon edition (2019).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions state the impression number on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Spring — 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.