The points of issue
US W. W. Norton first printing: copyright page carries the full number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. The defining point is the presence of the 1; later printings begin the line at a higher number (e.g. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10). Brown boards with metallic copper spine lettering; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. Published April 2018.
Is this the true first?
US W. W. Norton 2018 is the true first; the number line beginning with 1 confirms the first printing. The UK William Heinemann edition is a separate later issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings remove the leading 1 (the line then starts at 2 or higher). Do not rely on the presence of a 0/10 to identify a first, since the line runs to literal 10.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Overstory a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US W. W. Norton first printing: copyright page carries the full number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. The defining point is the presence of the 1; later printings begin the line at a higher number (e.g. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10). Brown boards with metallic copper spine lettering; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. Published April 2018.
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 W. W. Norton 2018 is the true first; the number line beginning with 1 confirms the first printing. The UK William Heinemann edition is a separate later issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings remove the leading 1 (the line then starts at 2 or higher). Do not rely on the presence of a 0/10 to identify a first, since the line runs to literal 10.
I have a first edition of The Overstory — 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.