The points of issue
Quarter-cloth over ochre boards with gilt spine lettering. Copyright page carries a number line; first-state jacket is priced on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US W. W. Norton (New York, 2011) is the true first edition. Won the 2011 National Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club issue noted; confirm the number line on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Swerve: How the World Became Modern a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Quarter-cloth over ochre boards with gilt spine lettering. Copyright page carries a number line; first-state jacket is priced on the front flap.
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 (New York, 2011) is the true first edition. Won the 2011 National Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book-club issue noted; confirm the number line on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Swerve: How the World Became Modern — 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.