Why is 1st/1st Northern Lights by Philip Pullman so rare ?

Question

Why is the 'Northern Lights' First Edition/First Print by Philip Pullman so rare and expensive. Some people advertise such books as First Edition/First Impression and others replace Impression by Print. Is there a difference between First Impression and First Print? What other things must I look for in a book to tell if it's rare?

Thank you in advance

Answer 1

Pato, I don't know where you live but it might have something to do with the fact that the book was published under a different title in the US. It is known there as The Golden Compass so first (or any) editions of Northern Lights would be rare in that country.

In the UK I'm not sure except that it was Pullman's break-through book (not his first book but the first one to catapault him to the super league) so it was probably printed in lower numbers than the sequels and they probably increased the print run for the second edition.

According to Wikipedia, the difference between 'first edition' and 'first print' is that the first edition refers to the unrevised hardcover edition whenever it's printed whereas 'first print' means the first print run of that edition. Book collectors would want the first print of the first edition.

Edited to add: HBP, it's worth checking. Maybe it IS valuable! However, I believe having a book signed actually diminishes the value for some reason - you would have to check on that and it would depend on if it was a plain signature or a personalised message. Is your book the hardback? First editions are always either hardbacks or trade paperbacks (if no hardback is produced).

Answer 2

Northern Lights First Edition

Answer 3

Philip Pullman does refer to the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis, in his books. In the first book he only refers to fictional places in an alternate universe, but in the second, from the very start the scene takes place in the Oxford you can visit in England.

Answer 4

i think there was an error on one of the title pages in the very first print run of Northern Lights and the first print run was pretty small. the error was corrected on subsequent larger print runs.

Slightly off topic, but I have to say it never ceases to amuse me that they even have to dumb down children's book titles for the US market like replacing philosopher with sorceror in the Harry Potter books and calling Northern Lights The Golden Compass.

Answer 5

wooo I never knew it was rare at all. I got NL a very very long time ago, so probs its a first edition. Also I live in Oxford (where Pullman lives) and he occasionally comes to the bookshop and signs stuff so I got mine signed.

If it's first edition and signed, maybe its valuable???

Answer 6

I wish I knew