The points of issue
The Riverhead first printing is an UNSTATED first edition: the copyright page does not print the words First Edition. The point of issue is a complete number line ending in 1. First-state jacket is without later bestseller bands. Blue paper-covered boards with red/orange spine lettering.
Is this the true first?
The US Riverhead edition (June 2020) is the true first. The UK Dialogue Books (Little, Brown) edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition is the issue. Later printings lack the 1 in the number line and add bestseller bands to the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Vanishing Half a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Riverhead first printing is an UNSTATED first edition: the copyright page does not print the words First Edition. The point of issue is a complete number line ending in 1. First-state jacket is without later bestseller bands. Blue paper-covered boards with red/orange spine lettering.
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 Riverhead edition (June 2020) is the true first. The UK Dialogue Books (Little, Brown) edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition is the issue. Later printings lack the 1 in the number line and add bestseller bands to the jacket.
I have a first edition of The Vanishing Half — 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.