The points of issue
Children's picture book, illus. Dave McKean. US HarperCollins first printing has a full number line 1 through 10 (including 1) on the copyright page; color pictorial boards with black endpapers. UK Bloomsbury edition also 2003.
Is this the true first?
US and UK editions both appeared in 2003; commonly treated as co-firsts, with the US HarperCollins printing the standard collected issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Wolves in the Walls (with Dave McKean) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Children's picture book, illus. Dave McKean. US HarperCollins first printing has a full number line 1 through 10 (including 1) on the copyright page; color pictorial boards with black endpapers. UK Bloomsbury edition also 2003.
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 and UK editions both appeared in 2003; commonly treated as co-firsts, with the US HarperCollins printing the standard collected issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
I have a first edition of The Wolves in the Walls (with Dave McKean) — 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.