The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards; copyright page reads 'First Scribner hardcover edition' with a full descending number line; first-state dust jacket priced. Published New York, November 2010.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner (New York) true first. Won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm both the 'First Scribner hardcover edition' line and the complete number line on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards; copyright page reads 'First Scribner hardcover edition' with a full descending number line; first-state dust jacket priced. Published New York, November 2010.
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. US Scribner (New York) true first. Won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm both the 'First Scribner hardcover edition' line and the complete number line on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer — 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.