The points of issue
Trade paperback original in pictorial wrappers under the pseudonym Stephen Bury, stating First Edition on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The US Bantam trade paperback original (1996) is the true first under the Stephen Bury pseudonym (Neal Stephenson and his uncle George Jewsbury).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reissues crediting the real names are not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Cobweb a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Trade paperback original in pictorial wrappers under the pseudonym Stephen Bury, stating First Edition on the copyright page.
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 Bantam trade paperback original (1996) is the true first under the Stephen Bury pseudonym (Neal Stephenson and his uncle George Jewsbury).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reissues crediting the real names are not the first.
I have a first edition of The Cobweb — 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.