The points of issue
Abacus UK hardcover (Abacus is a Little, Brown imprint). Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 1997 by Abacus, with no statement of a later printing. Priced dust jacket. ISBN 0316640166.
Is this the true first?
UK Abacus hardcover (1997) is the true first. Unusually for Banks, this title appeared under the Abacus imprint rather than Little, Brown proper, so the Abacus imprint on the title page is correct for the first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Song of Stone a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Abacus UK hardcover (Abacus is a Little, Brown imprint). Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 1997 by Abacus, with no statement of a later printing. Priced dust jacket. ISBN 0316640166.
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 Abacus hardcover (1997) is the true first. Unusually for Banks, this title appeared under the Abacus imprint rather than Little, Brown proper, so the Abacus imprint on the title page is correct for the first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of A Song of Stone — 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.