The points of issue
First US trade edition: William Morrow, 2013 (published 18 June 2013), with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and a complete number line ending in 1. The jacket carries the printed retail price.
Is this the true first?
US Morrow (June 2013) and UK Headline (2013) appeared effectively simultaneously, so each is the first of its own market. Signed copies are common because Gaiman toured heavily; numbered/limited and signed states exist as premium issues alongside the trade printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings advance the number line off 1. Book-club copies and later impressions should be distinguished from the stated first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Ocean at the End of the Lane a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US trade edition: William Morrow, 2013 (published 18 June 2013), with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and a complete number line ending in 1. The jacket carries the printed retail 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. US Morrow (June 2013) and UK Headline (2013) appeared effectively simultaneously, so each is the first of its own market. Signed copies are common because Gaiman toured heavily; numbered/limited and signed states exist as premium issues alongside the trade printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings advance the number line off 1. Book-club copies and later impressions should be distinguished from the stated first printing.
I have a first edition of The Ocean at the End of the Lane — 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.