The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards. Copyright page reads First Edition 2014. First-state dust jacket present.
Is this the true first?
US Henry Holt (New York) is the true first, published February 2014. Won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm the First Edition 2014 statement on the copyright page; later printings drop that wording.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards. Copyright page reads First Edition 2014. First-state dust jacket present.
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 Henry Holt (New York) is the true first, published February 2014. Won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm the First Edition 2014 statement on the copyright page; later printings drop that wording.
I have a first edition of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History — 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.