The points of issue
First edition, first printing has a complete number line including 1. Turquoise and navy cloth and boards; colorful pictorial dust jacket with the printed price intact and unclipped. ISBN 0-316-66634-3.
Is this the true first?
The US Little, Brown first is the true first; the UK Picador edition (2002) follows. Sebold's debut novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Many later printings exist; only a number line including 1 confirms the first. No competing book-club issue defines the points.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Lovely Bones a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing has a complete number line including 1. Turquoise and navy cloth and boards; colorful pictorial dust jacket with the printed price intact and unclipped. ISBN 0-316-66634-3.
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 Little, Brown first is the true first; the UK Picador edition (2002) follows. Sebold's debut novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Many later printings exist; only a number line including 1 confirms the first. No competing book-club issue defines the points.
I have a first edition of The Lovely Bones — 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.