What is the first issue of a book?

[rich7]

Test No. incompl/advan-63 "Issues", question 5

The value of one of the early copies of that book can be considerable if it happens to be a ......... issue.

(a) premier
(b) prime
(c) beginning
(d) first

Test No. incompl/advan-63 "Issues", answer 5

The value of one of the early copies of that book can be considerable if it happens to be a first issue.

Correct answer: (d) first

Your answer was: incorrect
The value of one of the early copies of that book can be considerable if it happens to be a prime issue.
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I don't understand the concept of the complete sentence.

[Alan]

The first issue of a book is a copy that was made when the book was first published. If you have a book by a well known writer and it is a first issue, it will be more valuable than that same book published at a later date.
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English as a Second Language
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