# Is "The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials 2)" by Philip Pullman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials 2) by Philip Pullman (Scholastic / Point, 1997) is identified by: Copyright-page number line '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' (even-then-odd, containing 1) on the true UK first printing; Scholastic/Point imprint, 1997; first-state jacket price unclipped. UK Scholastic/Point true world first (1997), preceding the US Knopf edition (also 1997).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright-page number line '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' (even-then-odd, containing 1) on the true UK first printing
- Scholastic/Point imprint, 1997; first-state jacket price unclipped
- Note a variant lacking the leading '2' exists with no established priority
- Publisher imprint reads Scholastic / Point
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Philip Pullman |
| Publisher | Scholastic / Point |
| Year | 1997 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | Copyright-page number line '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' (even-then-odd, containing 1) on the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright-page number line '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' (even-then-odd, containing 1) on the true UK first printing; Scholastic/Point imprint, 1997; first-state jacket price unclipped. Note a variant lacking the leading '2' exists with no established priority.

## Is this the true first?
UK Scholastic/Point true world first (1997), preceding the US Knopf edition (also 1997). Confirm the even-then-odd number line containing 1.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US Knopf edition is a separate issue; later printings advance the number line. A printing variant lacking the leading '2' exists with no established priority between the two. Book-club editions differ.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials 2)* by Philip Pullman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-subtle-knife-his-dark-materials-2
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.