The points of issue
Biography in hardcover boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket priced accordingly; jacket features a Hans Holbein portrait. UK first issued under ISBN 1856197115.
Is this the true first?
The UK Chatto & Windus edition of 1998 is the true first. The US edition (Nan A. Talese / Doubleday) also appeared in 1998 and states 'First published in the United Kingdom by Chatto & Windus,' confirming UK precedence.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions are reprints and do not precede the Chatto & Windus first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Life of Thomas More a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Biography in hardcover boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket priced accordingly; jacket features a Hans Holbein portrait. UK first issued under ISBN 1856197115.
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 Chatto & Windus edition of 1998 is the true first. The US edition (Nan A. Talese / Doubleday) also appeared in 1998 and states 'First published in the United Kingdom by Chatto & Windus,' confirming UK precedence.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions are reprints and do not precede the Chatto & Windus first.
I have a first edition of The Life of Thomas More — 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.