The points of issue
Cloth boards with gilt-stamped spine and a priced dust jacket. Won the Whitbread Novel Award; Booker-shortlisted.
Is this the true first?
The UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 2005 is the true first and precedes the US Pantheon edition of January 2006.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints and later impressions state the impression on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Accidental a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth boards with gilt-stamped spine and a priced dust jacket. Won the Whitbread Novel Award; Booker-shortlisted.
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 UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 2005 is the true first and precedes the US Pantheon edition of January 2006.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints and later impressions state the impression on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Accidental — 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.