The points of issue
Hardback in boards with gilt-lettered spine, issued in dust jacket. First edition, first impression has the full number line ending in 1; later printings state the impression.
Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape edition (April 1999, ISBN 0224044192) precedes the US Henry Holt edition (also 1999) by a short interval, making the Cape printing the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions state the impression on the copyright page; the true first shows the complete number line down to 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Ground Beneath Her Feet a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardback in boards with gilt-lettered spine, issued in dust jacket. First edition, first impression has the full number line ending in 1; later printings state the impression.
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 edition (April 1999, ISBN 0224044192) precedes the US Henry Holt edition (also 1999) by a short interval, making the Cape printing the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions state the impression on the copyright page; the true first shows the complete number line down to 1.
I have a first edition of The Ground Beneath Her Feet — 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.