The points of issue
UK Sandstone Press trade paperback original, 2011 (ISBN 9781905207589); a paperback original with no hardcover issued. First impression has no later-printing statement on the copyright page. A noted first-issue point is the spine misspelling 'Jesse' rather than 'Jessie' on the original Sandstone printing.
Is this the true first?
The Sandstone Press 2011 paperback original is the true first. The Canongate edition (5 July 2012) is a later, more common reissue and is 'first thus' only. Winner of the 2012 Arthur C. Clarke Award; longlisted for the 2011 Man Booker Prize.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Most copies in circulation are the 2012 Canongate reissue, a reprint, not the scarce Sandstone first. Verify the Sandstone imprint and the 'Jesse' spine point.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Testament of Jessie Lamb a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Sandstone Press trade paperback original, 2011 (ISBN 9781905207589); a paperback original with no hardcover issued. First impression has no later-printing statement on the copyright page. A noted first-issue point is the spine misspelling 'Jesse' rather than 'Jessie' on the original Sandstone printing.
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 Sandstone Press 2011 paperback original is the true first. The Canongate edition (5 July 2012) is a later, more common reissue and is 'first thus' only. Winner of the 2012 Arthur C. Clarke Award; longlisted for the 2011 Man Booker Prize.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Most copies in circulation are the 2012 Canongate reissue, a reprint, not the scarce Sandstone first. Verify the Sandstone imprint and the 'Jesse' spine point.
I have a first edition of The Testament of Jessie Lamb — 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.