The points of issue
Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the full number line reading 88 89 90 91 92 HC 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. A separate signed, numbered, slipcased limited issue of 250 copies also exists.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row 1988 trade edition is the true first; a small signed limited issue was produced simultaneously and is identified by its limitation statement and slipcase.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the printed price and the number line; later printings drop the line down toward higher numbers and may omit 'FIRST EDITION'.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Thief of Time a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the full number line reading 88 89 90 91 92 HC 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. A separate signed, numbered, slipcased limited issue of 250 copies also exists.
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. The US Harper & Row 1988 trade edition is the true first; a small signed limited issue was produced simultaneously and is identified by its limitation statement and slipcase.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the printed price and the number line; later printings drop the line down toward higher numbers and may omit 'FIRST EDITION'.
I have a first edition of A Thief of Time — 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.