The points of issue
Fourth Estate London 2009 (Booker Prize winner). First printing copyright page with full number line ending in '1'; dust jacket priced £18.99. Publisher's boards.
Is this the true first?
Fourth Estate London 2009 is the true first; Henry Holt/John Macrae New York 2009 is the first US. Signed firsts are sought after.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Number line not ending in '1' indicates a later printing; US edition carries Henry Holt imprint. Book club editions lack the priced Fourth Estate jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wolf Hall a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Fourth Estate London 2009 (Booker Prize winner). First printing copyright page with full number line ending in '1'; dust jacket priced £18.99. Publisher's boards.
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. Fourth Estate London 2009 is the true first; Henry Holt/John Macrae New York 2009 is the first US. Signed firsts are sought after.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Number line not ending in '1' indicates a later printing; US edition carries Henry Holt imprint. Book club editions lack the priced Fourth Estate jacket.
I have a first edition of Wolf Hall — 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.