The points of issue
First Bantam hardcover, 1998, with the full number line present on the copyright page (the line includes the 1). Priced dust jacket. Later printings drop the lower numbers of the line.
Is this the true first?
The US Bantam Spectra 1998 hardcover is the true first. The UK New English Library edition (1999) is later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Science Fiction Book Club edition is a separate book-club issue: it typically carries a blind-stamp on the rear board, lacks the printed price on the jacket, and uses lighter boards. Confirm the trade jacket and the intact number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of To Say Nothing of the Dog a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Bantam hardcover, 1998, with the full number line present on the copyright page (the line includes the 1). Priced dust jacket. Later printings drop the lower numbers of the line.
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 Bantam Spectra 1998 hardcover is the true first. The UK New English Library edition (1999) is later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Science Fiction Book Club edition is a separate book-club issue: it typically carries a blind-stamp on the rear board, lacks the printed price on the jacket, and uses lighter boards. Confirm the trade jacket and the intact number line.
I have a first edition of To Say Nothing of the Dog — 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.