The points of issue
A Borzoi Book; copyright page states 'First Edition' with no later-printing statement, per Knopf's convention of a stated 'First Edition' rather than a number line. ISBN 0-375-41288-3; illustrated; first-issue jacket carries the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf edition is the true first. Do not confuse this title with Greene's earlier 'The Elegant Universe' (Norton, 1999), a separate book.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club hardcover of note. The chief confusion is later Knopf printings that drop the 'First Edition' statement. The stated 'First Edition' plus a printed-price jacket identify the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: A Borzoi Book; copyright page states 'First Edition' with no later-printing statement, per Knopf's convention of a stated 'First Edition' rather than a number line. ISBN 0-375-41288-3; illustrated; first-issue jacket carries the printed price.
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 Knopf edition is the true first. Do not confuse this title with Greene's earlier 'The Elegant Universe' (Norton, 1999), a separate book.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club hardcover of note. The chief confusion is later Knopf printings that drop the 'First Edition' statement. The stated 'First Edition' plus a printed-price jacket identify the first printing.
I have a first edition of The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality — 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.