The points of issue
Discworld 35; Tiffany Aching 3. UK Doubleday 2006; number line to 1.
Is this the true first?
Near-simultaneous transatlantic release in late September 2006: sources conflict on the exact UK date (21 or 28 September) against a US HarperTempest date of 26 September. The UK Doubleday is conventionally collected as the first, but strict UK-versus-US precedence cannot be stated with certainty.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wintersmith a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Discworld 35; Tiffany Aching 3. UK Doubleday 2006; number line to 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. Near-simultaneous transatlantic release in late September 2006: sources conflict on the exact UK date (21 or 28 September) against a US HarperTempest date of 26 September. The UK Doubleday is conventionally collected as the first, but strict UK-versus-US precedence cannot be stated with certainty.
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 Wintersmith — 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.