Anne Rice First Editions

• Interview with the Vampire — 1976 · Alfred A. Knopf'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page (Rice's debut), with '1976' on the title page and no additional-printing notation. Binding: dark grey paper boards with a black cloth spine lettered in gilt, and a red top-stain. The first-issue jacket is the gold-foil jacket with the price present on the front flap; its rear panel bears the author's photograph WITHOUT any review blurbs and WITHOUT a photo credit (the…. US Knopf 1976 is the true first (Rice's debut) and precedes the first British edition. The UK first is Raven Books / Macdonald and Jane's (London, 1976), issued later the same year — note its jacket is the PHOTOGRAPHIC vampire-with-candelabrum design, not to be confused with the US gold-foil jacket. First state of the US book is told by the stated 'FIRST EDITION,' the unclipped priced gold-foil jacket, and the…. Book-club editions omit the stated 'FIRST EDITION,' carry a rear-board blind-stamp, use cheaper boards, and have a jacket with no printed price. The stated 'FIRST EDITION' line is the primary separator; the gold-foil jacket's review-free, credit-free rear panel confirms a first-issue jacket.
• The Feast of All Saints — 1979 · Simon & SchusterUS Simon & Schuster hardcover first. First printing identified by the complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, in an unclipped jacket designed by Paul Bacon. Quarter red cloth over speckled cream boards with red endpapers. Rice's second book and her first non-vampire historical novel. US Simon & Schuster (1979) is the true first. It is less common than the vampire titles. A book-club edition lacks the printed jacket price and is typically a lighter, smaller-format printing; rely on the number line ending in 1 and the priced jacket to identify the trade first.
• Cry to Heaven — 1982 · Alfred A. KnopfUS Alfred A. Knopf (A Borzoi Book) hardcover first, October 1982. Knopf identifies its firsts by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and no later-printing statement, in a priced unclipped jacket. US Knopf (1982) is the true first. A book-club edition lacks the printed jacket price and the stated First Edition line; identify the trade first by the stated First Edition on the copyright page and the priced jacket.
• The Vampire Lestat — 1985 · Alfred A. KnopfUS Alfred A. Knopf (A Borzoi Book) hardcover first, 1985. First printing has the words First Edition stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and no later-printing statement, in the priced unclipped jacket. Second of the Vampire Chronicles. US Knopf (1985) is the true first; a UK edition also appeared in 1985. A book-club edition lacks the printed jacket price and the stated First Edition line; rely on the stated First Edition on the copyright page and the priced jacket to confirm the trade first.
• The Queen of the Damned — 1988 · Alfred A. KnopfUS Alfred A. Knopf (A Borzoi Book) hardcover first, October 1988. First printing has the words First Edition stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and no later-printing statement, in the priced unclipped jacket. Quarter white cloth over beige boards with gilt medallion. Third of the Vampire Chronicles. Note that Knopf ran printings before publication, so some copies state a later printing before…. US Knopf (1988) is the true first; a UK edition also appeared in 1988. Separate signed limited issues in slipcase exist as later fine-binding productions, first thus rather than the true first. A book-club edition lacks the printed jacket price and the stated First Edition line; identify the trade first by the stated First Edition on the copyright page and the priced jacket.
• The Mummy, or Ramses the Damned — 1989 · BallantineUS Ballantine Books trade paperback original, published June 1989. As a Ballantine paperback original, the true first printing carries no additional-printing statement and no higher printing numbers on the copyright page; later printings add a printing statement or advance the number sequence. There was no US hardcover first edition. The 1989 Ballantine US trade paperback is the true first edition in the US; there was no US hardcover. A UK hardcover edition was issued separately. Collectors sometimes wrongly seek a US hardcover first. No US book-club edition supersedes it; later printings add higher printing numbers and remove the first-printing statement.
• The Witching Hour — 1990 · Alfred A. KnopfKnopf, 1990, launch of the Lives of the Mayfair Witches. The first edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon. First-state dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Half black cloth, roughly 965 pages. (Rice's 'Interview with the Vampire' is a separate, already-indexed title.). The US Knopf first is the true first, collected within the Rice corpus and as a gothic high spot. Confirm the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and the priced first-state jacket. Watch for the Book-of-the-Month Club edition (no price on the jacket, blind stamp on the rear board, lighter boards). The true first carries the Knopf 'FIRST EDITION' statement and a priced jacket.
• The Tale of the Body Thief — 1992 · Alfred A. Knopf'First Edition' is stated on the copyright page per Knopf convention. Bound in quarter cloth over grey paper-covered boards with a silver foil-stamped spine (ISBN 0-679-40528-3). The first-issue dust jacket retains the printed price on the front flap, unclipped, with '10/92' noted at the foot of the rear flap. Vampire Chronicles book four. US Knopf first, 1992. Book-club editions are blind-stamped on the rear board, omit the 'First Edition' statement, and carry a jacket with no printed price and no '10/92' rear-flap code.
• Lasher — 1993 · Alfred A. Knopf'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with no later printings listed; bound in quarter cloth (blue cloth spine) over boards with gilt spine lettering, running 577 pages, octavo. The first-state dust jacket was designed by Chip Kidd and carries its printed price on the flap. Lives of the Mayfair Witches book two. US Knopf first, September 1993 (ISBN 0-679-41295-6). Literary Guild and other book-club copies are blind-stamped on the rear board, are of lighter bulk, and omit the 'First Edition' statement and the printed jacket price.
• Taltos — 1994 · Alfred A. Knopf'First Edition' stated on the copyright page. Bound in quarter cloth: black boards with a black cloth spine lettered in silver. Illustrated dust jacket with an illustrated rear panel and the printed price present. Octavo, 467 pages. Lives of the Mayfair Witches book three. US Knopf first, 1994. Book-club editions are blind-stamped on the rear board, omit the 'First Edition' statement, carry no printed jacket price, and are printed on thinner boards.
• Memnoch the Devil — 1995 · Alfred A. Knopf'First Edition' stated on the copyright page of the trade issue; dust jacket with printed price. A separate signed limited slipcased edition (425 numbered copies, plus a small deluxe issue) was also produced and is distinct from the trade first. US Knopf first, 1995. Vampire Chronicles book five. Book-club editions are blind-stamped on the rear board and omit the 'First Edition' statement.
• Servant of the Bones — 1996 · Alfred A. KnopfThe US Knopf first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page (Knopf's practice for this title, not a descending number line). The book is bound in black boards with gilt lettering to the spine; the priced dust jacket carries jacket art by Carol Devine Carson reproducing the relief of the Romans bearing the spoils of Jerusalem from the Arch of Titus, with author photograph by Neil Alexander. The…. US Alfred A. Knopf first, 1996 (387 pp.), stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page. Book-club editions are blind-stamped on the rear board, are noticeably smaller and lighter, and omit the 'First Edition' statement.
• Violin — 1997 · Alfred A. KnopfAlfred A. Knopf, New York, 1997; a Borzoi Book in cloth with dust jacket. The first trade printing states 'First Edition' with the year 1997 on the copyright page and carries no later-printing statement; the first-issue jacket bears the printed price on the front flap. The Knopf US trade edition is the widely collected first appearance in trade form. A signed, numbered limited edition of 325 copies, issued by B.E. Trice Publishing in a velvet-covered slipcase, precedes the trade issue for collectors seeking the true first. Book club and later printings lack the stated 'First Edition' line on the copyright page; verify that line is present and that the jacket carries its printed price.
• Pandora — 1998 · Alfred A. KnopfFirst trade edition, first printing of 'Pandora: New Tales of the Vampires' (a Borzoi Book). Bound in quarter cloth over black boards with gilt spine lettering, roughly 353 pages, with a color frontispiece painting ('The Scribe Ezra Rewriting the Sacred Records'). The copyright page states 'First Trade Edition'; the dust jacket should carry its printed price on the front flap. US Knopf (New York) trade edition, 1998, is the collected first; a signed/limited state also exists, which is why some copies are designated 'First Trade Edition' rather than simply 'First Edition.'. Book-club and later printings lack the stated 'First Trade Edition' line on the copyright page and an unclipped priced jacket; verify that the edition line is present and the jacket flap retains its printed price.
• The Vampire Armand — 1998 · Alfred A. KnopfA Borzoi Book from Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1998, book six of the Vampire Chronicles. The copyright page states 'First Edition' (some copies read 'First Trade Edition'); a first printing shows the number line ending in 1 with no later-printing statement. Issued in cloth-and-board binding under a priced first-state dust jacket whose front panel reproduces a Renaissance painting (a Botticelli-school image evoking…. US Knopf trade edition is the collected first of Armand's story. Book club and later printings lack the stated 'First Edition' line and the terminal 1 in the number line on the copyright page; verify that line is present. Book-club copies also typically lack a printed jacket price.
• Vittorio the Vampire — 1999 · Alfred A. KnopfFirst trade edition, Alfred A. Knopf (a Borzoi Book), 1999; 292 pages with deckled edges. The copyright page states 'First Trade Edition' (some records note 'First Edition') and carries the year 1999. Bound in black boards with silver lettering on the spine, with a Filippino Lippi frontispiece. Issued in the pictorial dust jacket, which should retain its printed price on the flap. The Knopf US 'First Trade Edition' is the widely collected first. It was preceded for collectors by two signed limited issues, both dated 1999: a B.E. Trice numbered edition of 250 copies signed by Rice, bound in maroon leather boards and issued in a black cloth slipcase; and a Franklin Library signed leather edition from its Signed First Edition Society, which carries a special message from Rice not present in…. Book club and later printings lack the stated 'First Trade Edition' / 'First Edition' line on the copyright page; verify that line is present and that the edges are deckled.
• Merrick — 2000 · Alfred A. KnopfAlfred A. Knopf (a Borzoi Book), New York, 2000, part of the Vampire Chronicles. The copyright page states 'First Trade Edition' with the year 2000, which is the identifying line for the first trade printing. Bound in black cloth over boards, gilt-stamped, and issued in a priced dust jacket. A Franklin Library signed limited edition was issued to members and precedes the Knopf trade printing as a separate issue. The US Knopf trade edition, with 'First Trade Edition' stated on the copyright page, is the collected trade first; a Franklin Library signed limited edition precedes it as its own issue. Reprints and book-club copies lack the 'First Trade Edition' line on the copyright page; verify that line and the priced jacket are present.
• Blood and Gold — 2001 · Alfred A. KnopfEighth title in the Vampire Chronicles. The copyright page states 'First Edition' with the year 2001; a Borzoi Book (Knopf's colophon), bound in black cloth boards with gilt lettering to the spine and issued in the printed, illustrated dust jacket. US Knopf trade edition is the collected first. Reprints and book-club copies lack the stated 'First Edition' line on the copyright page; confirm that line is present and the Borzoi colophon appears.
• Blackwood Farm — 2002 · Alfred A. KnopfThe US Knopf first states "First Edition" on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and no additional printing numbers (Knopf marks these titles with the words rather than a descending number line). Bound in black boards with gilt spine lettering; the Knopf Borzoi device impressed on the boards is the publisher's own colophon and is not a book-club mark. Issued in a dust jacket that should retain its printed…. The US Knopf hardcover, stated first edition, is the true first. ISBN 0375411992. Later printings drop the "First Edition" statement. Book-club editions are physically smaller, are printed on lighter stock, and lack the printed price on the jacket flap; the reliable book-club tell is a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board near the tail, which should not be confused with Knopf's own Borzoi colophon on a true first.
• Blood Canticle — 2003 · Alfred A. KnopfThe US Knopf first states "First Edition" on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and no additional printing numbers (Knopf uses the stated words rather than a descending number line for these titles). Issued in a dust jacket that should retain its printed cover price on the front flap; an unclipped jacket confirms the price is intact, while a clipped jacket does not by itself demote a first. The US Knopf hardcover, stated first edition, is the true first edition; this is the final novel in the Vampire Chronicles. ISBN 037541200X. Later printings drop the "First Edition" statement. Book-club editions are physically smaller, printed on lighter stock, and lack the printed price on the jacket flap; the book-club tell is a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board, distinct from Knopf's own Borzoi colophon on the true first.
• Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt — 2005 · Alfred A. KnopfThe US Knopf first states "First Edition" on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and no additional printing numbers (Knopf marks these titles with the stated words rather than a descending number line). Issued in a dust jacket that should retain its printed cover price on the front flap; an unclipped jacket confirms the price is present, while a clipped jacket does not by itself demote a first printing. The US Knopf hardcover, stated first edition, is the true first edition. Later printings drop the "First Edition" statement. Book-club editions are physically smaller, printed on lighter stock, and lack the printed price on the jacket flap; the book-club tell is a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board, not to be confused with Knopf's own Borzoi colophon on a true first.

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