The points of issue
London: Jonathan Cape, 2007. Copyright page states first publication in 2007 by Jonathan Cape, with the Cape number line descending to 1 on the first printing; original black cloth lettered in silver to the spine, dark green endpapers, sterling-priced dust jacket. 2007 Booker Prize winner. The UK Cape hardcover (3 May 2007) precedes the US Grove/Black Cat paperback original (10 September 2007).
Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape 2007 hardcover is the true first; the US Grove/Black Cat appeared as a trade paperback original later in 2007, its first state lacking the Booker medallion.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; the key distinction is the UK Cape hardcover first versus the US Grove/Black Cat paperback issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Gathering a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: London: Jonathan Cape, 2007. Copyright page states first publication in 2007 by Jonathan Cape, with the Cape number line descending to 1 on the first printing; original black cloth lettered in silver to the spine, dark green endpapers, sterling-priced dust jacket. 2007 Booker Prize winner. The UK Cape hardcover (3 May 2007) precedes the US Grove/Black Cat paperback original (10 September 2007).
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 Jonathan Cape 2007 hardcover is the true first; the US Grove/Black Cat appeared as a trade paperback original later in 2007, its first state lacking the Booker medallion.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; the key distinction is the UK Cape hardcover first versus the US Grove/Black Cat paperback issue.
I have a first edition of The Gathering — 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.