The points of issue
Little, Brown UK hardcover, 393 pages, jacket art by Peter Brown. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 1999 by Little, Brown and Company, with no statement of a later impression. Priced, unclipped dust jacket. ISBN 0316648442.
Is this the true first?
UK Little, Brown hardcover (1999) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Business a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Little, Brown UK hardcover, 393 pages, jacket art by Peter Brown. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 1999 by Little, Brown and Company, with no statement of a later impression. Priced, unclipped dust jacket. ISBN 0316648442.
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 Little, Brown hardcover (1999) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of The Business — 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.