The points of issue
Collection of food essays, illustrated by Joe Berger. The true first is the Atlantic Books hardback in cloth/boards with dust jacket, 2003. Later issued in paperback by Atlantic; the hardback precedes.
Is this the true first?
UK Atlantic Books hardback (2003) is the true first. Minor title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition known.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Pedant in the Kitchen a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Collection of food essays, illustrated by Joe Berger. The true first is the Atlantic Books hardback in cloth/boards with dust jacket, 2003. Later issued in paperback by Atlantic; the hardback precedes.
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. UK Atlantic Books hardback (2003) is the true first. Minor title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition known.
I have a first edition of The Pedant in the Kitchen — 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.