The points of issue
Discworld 30; Tiffany Aching 1. UK Doubleday, published 1 May 2003; original boards in dust jacket; copyright page states first publication in Great Britain 2003 by Doubleday with a complete number line ending in 1.
Is this the true first?
UK Doubleday true first, published 1 May 2003; the US HarperCollins edition followed later the same month.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings lack the complete number line; the US edition and book club issues differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Wee Free Men a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Discworld 30; Tiffany Aching 1. UK Doubleday, published 1 May 2003; original boards in dust jacket; copyright page states first publication in Great Britain 2003 by Doubleday with a complete number line ending in 1.
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. UK Doubleday true first, published 1 May 2003; the US HarperCollins edition followed later the same month.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings lack the complete number line; the US edition and book club issues differ.
I have a first edition of The Wee Free Men — 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.