What makes a book a first edition?

[charliecat]

How do you know by looking at it? Picked up a paperback today that on the surface looks like \link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HARRY-POTTER-PHILOSOPHERS-STONE-HARDBACK-FIRST-EDITION_W0QQitemZ7019294610QQcategoryZ90962QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem\this} except his is hardbacked and laminated. How does he know. How would i know??

HRHQoQ, the seller does realise that it's worth less.

Re the "first edition" thing though - if you look at the photo of the "details" page from the front of the book, it doesn't say "2nd reprint 19XX" or anything which I would imagine is why the seller claims it's a first edition. However, my genuine HO first editions (later books so worth absolutely chuff all!!) actually say "first edition" on this page. Thinking about other books, I do think subsequent editions say "second edition" etc though.