The points of issue
Hardcover in grey faux-cloth boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket; 216 pp. First Chatto & Windus printing, with the publisher's number line ending in 1. ISBN 0701177446.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus (2004) precedes the US Nan A. Talese / Doubleday edition (2006).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings note an additional impression; no book-club issue affects the UK first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Lambs of London a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover in grey faux-cloth boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket; 216 pp. First Chatto & Windus printing, with the publisher's number line ending in 1. ISBN 0701177446.
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. UK Chatto & Windus (2004) precedes the US Nan A. Talese / Doubleday edition (2006).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings note an additional impression; no book-club issue affects the UK first.
I have a first edition of The Lambs of London — 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.