The points of issue
Boards, gilt spine; full number line ending in 1 with 'first published' on copyright page; jacket priced £16.99 net (216 pp, ISBN 9780224101998).
Is this the true first?
UK Cape (2014) precedes the US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday edition (2014).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions state the impression number in place of the 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Children Act a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Boards, gilt spine; full number line ending in 1 with 'first published' on copyright page; jacket priced £16.99 net (216 pp, ISBN 9780224101998).
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 Cape (2014) precedes the US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday edition (2014).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions state the impression number in place of the 1.
I have a first edition of The Children Act — 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.