The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards; full number line on the copyright page ending in '1'; first-state dust jacket with price present. Illustrated.
Is this the true first?
US Norton is the true first (published 1989); the UK Hutchinson Radius edition followed in 1990.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identify later printings by a number line that no longer descends to '1'.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards; full number line on the copyright page ending in '1'; first-state dust jacket with price present. Illustrated.
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 Norton is the true first (published 1989); the UK Hutchinson Radius edition followed in 1990.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identify later printings by a number line that no longer descends to '1'.
I have a first edition of Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History — 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.