# Is "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins, 2008) is identified by: Two distinct 2008 firsts. The US HarperCollins edition (released September 30, 2008) preceded the UK Bloomsbury edition (late October 2008).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Two distinct 2008 firsts
- US HarperCollins first printing: states First Edition with a complete number line ending in 1, Dave McKean cover and interior art, printed price on the jacket
- UK Bloomsbury Children's first printing: Chris Riddell illustrations, number line ending in 1, priced UK jacket
- Match the illustrator to the issue
- Publisher imprint reads HarperCollins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Gaiman |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Year | 2008 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Two distinct 2008 firsts |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Two distinct 2008 firsts. US HarperCollins first printing: states First Edition with a complete number line ending in 1, Dave McKean cover and interior art, printed price on the jacket. UK Bloomsbury Children's first printing: Chris Riddell illustrations, number line ending in 1, priced UK jacket. Match the illustrator to the issue.

## Is this the true first?
The US HarperCollins edition (released September 30, 2008) preceded the UK Bloomsbury edition (late October 2008). Because the two markets used different illustrators (McKean in the US, Riddell in the UK Children's edition), collectors treat each as the first of its own issue rather than one true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry number lines that no longer end in 1. Confirm the issue by matching illustrator: McKean for the US HarperCollins first, Riddell for the UK Bloomsbury Children's first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Graveyard Book* by Neil Gaiman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-graveyard-book
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.