The points of issue
First published in 1988 by Jonathan Cape, London; black boards lettered in gilt on the spine, priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The UK Cape edition (1988) is the true first. The US Knopf edition appeared the same year and is the first American edition; the UK edition is conventionally regarded as preceding it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fifth Child a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First published in 1988 by Jonathan Cape, London; black boards lettered in gilt on the spine, priced dust jacket.
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 UK Cape edition (1988) is the true first. The US Knopf edition appeared the same year and is the first American edition; the UK edition is conventionally regarded as preceding it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition.
I have a first edition of The Fifth Child — 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.