The points of issue
Novel. Boards with gilt-lettered spine; full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced £16.99 net. Published 4 September 2003.
Is this the true first?
UK Jonathan Cape (published September 2003) precedes the US Miramax edition (published November 2003). Both appeared in 2003; Cape is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add an impression statement; the first carries a full descending number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Yellow Dog a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Novel. Boards with gilt-lettered spine; full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced £16.99 net. Published 4 September 2003.
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 Jonathan Cape (published September 2003) precedes the US Miramax edition (published November 2003). Both appeared in 2003; Cape is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions add an impression statement; the first carries a full descending number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of Yellow 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.