The points of issue
Copyright page states First Edition with a complete number line descending to 1 (for example 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1); first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price. The first printing was small, so true firsts retaining the 1 are scarce.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House hardcover is the true first; the UK Bloomsbury edition follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; later printings drop the First Edition statement and the line no longer ends in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tenth of December a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states First Edition with a complete number line descending to 1 (for example 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1); first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price. The first printing was small, so true firsts retaining the 1 are 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 US Random House hardcover is the true first; the UK Bloomsbury edition follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; later printings drop the First Edition statement and the line no longer ends in 1.
I have a first edition of Tenth of December — 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.