The points of issue
Hardback in cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering; full number line down to 1; dust jacket with UK price.
Is this the true first?
UK Picador (2011) precedes the US Knopf edition (2012).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions are stated on the copyright page; the number line is reduced on reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wish You Were Here a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardback in cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering; full number line down to 1; dust jacket with UK price.
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 Picador (2011) precedes the US Knopf edition (2012).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions are stated on the copyright page; the number line is reduced on reprints.
I have a first edition of Wish You Were Here — 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.