# Is "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (William Morrow, 2013) is identified by: 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. US Morrow (June 2013) and UK Headline (2013) appeared effectively simultaneously, so each is the first of its own market.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Gaiman |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 2013 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First US trade edition: William Morrow, 2013 (published 18 June 2013), with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and a complete… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Ocean at the End of the Lane* by Neil Gaiman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.