The points of issue
Black boards stamped in gilt on the spine; full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced 18.99 net.
Is this the true first?
UK Jonathan Cape (4 February 2010) precedes the US Knopf edition (11 May 2010).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue; later impressions remove the lower digits of the number line or state the impression.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Pregnant Widow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Black boards stamped in gilt on the spine; full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced 18.99 net.
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 Jonathan Cape (4 February 2010) precedes the US Knopf edition (11 May 2010).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue; later impressions remove the lower digits of the number line or state the impression.
I have a first edition of The Pregnant Widow — 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.