The points of issue
First Del Rey hardcover, February 6, 2024 (ISBN 9781984820709). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line including 1, and the dust jacket carries the printed price. First in the Shadow of the Leviathan series.
Is this the true first?
The US Del Rey 2024 hardcover is the true first; the UK (Hodderscape) 2024 edition is a separate near-simultaneous first. Won the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition is the standard concern; verify the 'First Edition' statement and number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Tainted Cup a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Del Rey hardcover, February 6, 2024 (ISBN 9781984820709). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line including 1, and the dust jacket carries the printed price. First in the Shadow of the Leviathan series.
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. The US Del Rey 2024 hardcover is the true first; the UK (Hodderscape) 2024 edition is a separate near-simultaneous first. Won the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition is the standard concern; verify the 'First Edition' statement and number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of The Tainted Cup — 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.