The points of issue
First printing states 'First edition, 2003' with the FSG number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2'. The earliest jacket state lacks the Today Show Book Club emblem and the later award/blurb additions, and retains the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The US FSG hardcover (2003) is the accepted true first; it won the 2003 National Book Award for Fiction and the 2004 NBCC Award. UK (Virago) and Australian editions follow.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are typically smaller, may be blind-stamped, and carry an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Great Fire a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing states 'First edition, 2003' with the FSG number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2'. The earliest jacket state lacks the Today Show Book Club emblem and the later award/blurb additions, and retains 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 FSG hardcover (2003) is the accepted true first; it won the 2003 National Book Award for Fiction and the 2004 NBCC Award. UK (Virago) and Australian editions follow.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are typically smaller, may be blind-stamped, and carry an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of The Great Fire — 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.