Ken Follett First Editions

• The Modigliani Scandal — 1976 · CollinsTrue first published under the pseudonym Zachary Stone by William Collins Sons & Co., London, 1976, in hardcover with dust jacket. The Collins first is bound in red cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and issued in a pictorial dust jacket that should carry the original printed price (unclipped). Later reissued under Follett's own name. The genuine first appeared as by Zachary Stone (Collins, London, 1976); the Follett-credited hardcover reissue (US William Morrow and later paperbacks such as the 1985 editions) is a later edition. Any edition crediting Ken Follett on the title page is a later reissue, not the true first.
• Paper Money — 1977 · CollinsTrue first published under the pseudonym Zachary Stone by William Collins, London, 1977, under the Crime Club imprint, in red-orange boards stamped in gilt on the spine, with a photo-illustrated dust jacket that must retain its printed price. Approximately 193 pages plus advertisements. Later reissued under Follett's own name. The genuine first appeared as by Zachary Stone in 1977; the Follett-credited reissue is a later edition. Any edition crediting Ken Follett is a later reissue, not the true first.
• Eye of the Needle — 1978 · Arbor HouseThe true first is the UK edition titled Storm Island (Macdonald & Jane's, London, 1978), 322 pp, with a first-printing copyright statement. The original first-issue dust jacket exists in two accepted states: priced for the UK market and unpriced on export copies; both are recognized as first-issue. The US Eye of the Needle (Arbor House, 1978) is the first American edition under the retitled, better-known name. Precedence and title point: the UK Macdonald & Jane's edition (1978) was published first, under the title 'Storm Island', and is the true first edition of the work. The US Arbor House 'Eye of the Needle' (1978) is the first appearance under the now-familiar title. Buyers should confirm which they want. US book-club editions of Eye of the Needle carry a blind-stamp on the rear board, lack a printed jacket price, and have a smaller trim. The title alone is the quickest discriminator: Storm Island indicates the UK true first; an Eye of the Needle hardcover indicates the US edition. Confirm the publisher imprint and first-printing statement.
• The Eye of the Needle — 1978 · Arbor HouseUS Arbor House first US edition, 1978, titled 'Eye of the Needle,' with the 'First Edition' statement. This is the edition under the awarded title; the novel won the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel. The earlier UK Macdonald & Jane's edition, 1978, was published under the original title 'Storm Island.'. The true first edition is the UK Macdonald & Jane's 'Storm Island' (1978), which preceded the US Arbor House 'Eye of the Needle' (1978). The US Arbor House is the first US edition and bears the title under which the book was awarded the Edgar. Book-club editions (Book-of-the-Month Club / Literary Guild) are smaller, lack the dust-jacket price, and may lack the number line. On the UK 'Storm Island' first issue, both priced and price-clipped/unpriced export dust jackets are accepted as first-state.
• Triple — 1979 · Arbor HouseArbor House first printing carries the publisher's first-printing statement and a number line on the copyright page; the first US issue is in a priced dust jacket. The true first is the UK Macdonald & Jane's edition, London 1979, which precedes the US Arbor House edition of the same year. The Arbor House printing is the first American edition. Book club copies show a blind stamp to the rear board and omit the publisher's first-printing statement.
• The Key to Rebecca — 1980 · Hamish HamiltonThe UK Hamish Hamilton edition (London, 1980) is the true first, identified by the 'First published 1980' statement on the copyright page in original cloth with a first-state jacket. The US William Morrow edition (New York, 1980) is the first American edition. Verify the first-printing copyright statement and an unclipped jacket. The UK Hamish Hamilton edition takes precedence as the true first; the US Morrow edition is the first American edition. This was Follett's third novel. Both editions are collected; confirm precedence by imprint and copyright statement. Book-club editions lack a printed jacket price, carry a blind-stamp on the rear board, and use lighter boards. Match the publisher imprint, first-printing statement, and an unclipped first-state jacket.
• The Man from St. Petersburg — 1982 · William MorrowWilliam Morrow & Company, New York, 1982 (ISBN 0688011500). The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page and carries a full number line. The true first is complete in its priced dust jacket, with the printed price present on the flap. US William Morrow first edition, 1982, published effectively alongside the UK Hamish Hamilton edition (ISBN 0241107836) of the same year; both are recognized as firsts in their respective markets. Book-club copies lack the 'First Edition' statement and number line and bear a blind stamp to the rear board; they are smaller and cheaper in construction than the trade first.
• On Wings of Eagles — 1983 · William MorrowThe US William Morrow first printing is identified by a complete descending number line on the copyright page (Morrow's convention of this era used the number line rather than a printed 'First Edition' statement). Blue and ivory boards stamped in silver, with map endpapers; the text carries black-and-white photographs across 444 pages. The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Lawrence Ratzkin, illustrated, and…. The UK Collins edition, London 1983, is generally regarded as the true first, with black-and-white plates, endpaper maps and cream cloth boards gilt-lettered on the spine in a jacket carrying the original UK printed price and a rear-panel author photograph without review blurbs; the US William Morrow edition of 1983 is the first American edition. Both appeared in 1983. Book club copies show a blind stamp (small blindstamped square or dot) to the lower rear board and lack the full number line; the BCE is also printed on lighter, bulkier paper and its jacket bears no printed price.
• Lie Down with Lions — 1986 · William MorrowNew York: William Morrow and Company, 1986. The first American printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page and carries a full number line beginning with 1. Bound in quarter red cloth over white paper boards with gilt lettering to the spine, collating [8], 9-333, [3] pp. Issued in a pictorial dust jacket that must retain the printed price to the front flap, uncorrected and unclipped, for a true…. The true first is the UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 1985, with a dust jacket designed by Len Thurston, which precedes the US William Morrow edition of 1986. The Morrow issue is the first American edition. Book-club copies bear a blind stamp (small blindstamped dot or square) to the rear board, are printed on thinner bulk with a smaller trim, lack any printed jacket price, and omit both the 'First Edition' statement and the number line.
• The Pillars of the Earth — 1989 · MacmillanThe true first is the UK Macmillan edition (London, 1989), in black cloth with gilt spine lettering and a pictorial jacket showing lightning striking a distant cathedral; it reads 'First published 1989' on the copyright page, per Macmillan's house style. The US William Morrow edition is the first American edition: stated 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1, in tan boards with a jacket featuring a gargoyle. Precedence is not genuinely debated: the UK Macmillan edition precedes and is the true first; the US Morrow edition is the first American edition. This is Follett's signature work, so condition and a genuine signature drive desirability. Book-club editions show a blind-stamp or gutter code, lack a printed jacket price, use lighter boards, and on the US side omit the full number line. For the US first, a stated First Edition with a complete number line to 1 and a first-state jacket separates it from club copies; for the true first, confirm the Macmillan imprint and 'First published 1989'.
• Night Over Water — 1991 · William MorrowNew York: William Morrow and Company, 1991. The first American printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page and carries a full number line beginning with 1. Bound in light-brown and black quarter cloth boards with gilt spine stamping, issued in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain the printed price to the front flap for a true first-issue jacket. US William Morrow first edition, 1991, published in the same year as the UK Macmillan edition (Macmillan London, 1991); no clear precedence is established between the two, so each is treated as a first in its own market. Book-club copies show a blind stamp to the rear board, use cheaper bulked paper and a smaller trim, carry no printed jacket price, and omit both the 'First Edition' statement and the number line.
• A Dangerous Fortune — 1993 · Delacorte PressUS first: Delacorte Press, New York, 1993. The copyright page of the first printing carries the notation 'November 1993' with a full number line descending to 1. Bound in black quarter cloth over charcoal-gray boards, with gilt lettering to the spine and the author's initials stamped in gilt on the front board; dark pictorial endpapers depict shadowy figures standing among marble columns, and a frontispiece…. Both a UK Macmillan and a US Delacorte edition appeared in 1993. For a British author like Follett the UK Macmillan hardcover is the likely true first; precise precedence between the two is not firmly established, so the Delacorte record here identifies the US first only. Book-club editions carry a blind-stamped dot to the rear board, lack the 'November 1993' first-printing notation and full number line, and are typically smaller and more cheaply bound.
• A Place Called Freedom — 1995 · CrownUS first: Crown Publishers, 1995, quarter red cloth over cream/parchment boards, spine lettering, antique-map endpapers; number line present indicating first printing; dust jacket present and unclipped. A UK Macmillan (Pan Macmillan, London) edition and a US Crown edition both appeared in 1995. The UK Macmillan hardcover is the likely true first for this British author; precise precedence is not firmly established, so this record identifies the US Crown first only. Book-club editions carry a blind-stamped dot to the rear board and lack the number line / 'First Edition' statement.
• The Third Twin — 1996 · CrownUS first: Crown Publishers, 1996, quarter red cloth over blue boards, silver spine lettering, gray endpapers; complete number line 1 through 10 indicating first printing; dust jacket present and unclipped. A UK Macmillan and a US Crown edition both appeared in 1996. The UK Macmillan hardcover is the likely true first for this British author; precise precedence is not firmly established, so this record identifies the US Crown first only. Book-club editions carry a blind-stamped dot to the rear board and lack the full number line.
• The Hammer of Eden — 1998 · CrownUS first edition: Crown Publishers, New York, 1998, ISBN 0-609-60308-6, 404 pages. The copyright page carries the words "First Edition" together with the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, the terminal 1 (and the stated "First Edition") together confirming the first printing. Bound in brown textured boards with a dark persimmon spine stamped in bronze. The dust jacket was designed by Whitney Cookman with the…. A UK Macmillan (London) edition and a US Crown edition both appeared in 1998; several dealers list the Macmillan UK edition first. The UK Macmillan hardcover is the likely true first for this British author, and the month-to-month precedence between the two 1998 printings is not firmly documented, so this record identifies only the US Crown first with confidence. Book-club editions carry a blind-stamped dot or maple-leaf to the lower rear board, are printed on lighter bulking paper, and lack the number line entirely; the price is also absent from the jacket flap on club copies.
• Code to Zero — 2000 · DuttonThis record identifies the US Dutton, 2000, hardcover, which is not the true first. The Dutton first printing shows a full number line descending to 1; the dust jacket should retain its printed flap price. The UK Macmillan (London) hardcover, 2000, is the true first edition and precedes the US Dutton edition. The Macmillan first printing carries the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 (the descending odds followed by the descending evens, including 1). The US Dutton edition described here is a later, separate issue. Book-club editions and later reprints lack the complete first-printing number line ending in 1; UK book-club copies are typically smaller and note the club on the jacket.
• Jackdaws — 2001 · DuttonUS first: Dutton, New York, 2001, hardcover (ISBN 0525946284), with First Edition stated on the copyright page above the descending number line and the unclipped dust jacket retaining its printed price. An advance reading copy in printed wrappers preceded the trade issue for review purposes. A UK Macmillan (London) hardcover (ISBN 0333783026) also appeared in 2001 with First Edition stated and its own descending number line, and is the likely true first for this British author; precise precedence between the two 2001 issues is not firmly established, so this record identifies the US Dutton first only. Book-club editions and later reprints lack the stated First Edition and the full descending number line, and are typically of lighter, cheaper construction than the trade hardcover.
• Hornet Flight — 2002 · DuttonFor the US Dutton first printing, look for the full number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 running to 1 on the copyright page (ISBN 0-525-94689-6) and a jacket carrying the original printed price at the flap. Note this is the US issue, not the global true first of the work. Ken Follett is British and his primary publisher was Macmillan in London; the UK Macmillan 2002 hardcover is the true first edition of the work. The Dutton edition is the first US edition, published the same year but not the global true first. Book-club and later reprint copies lack the full first-printing number line running to 1 and are typically unpriced or clipped; they are not first printings.
• Whiteout — 2004 · DuttonFor the US Dutton first printing (November 2004), the copyright page shows a stated first edition with the complete number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' ending in 1. Roughly 374 pages; bright blue spine with white lettering wrapping white boards blind-stamped 'Ken Follett'; book designed by Jaye Zimet, dust jacket illustration by John Alvin, retaining its original printed price on the flap. This is the US issue,…. The UK Macmillan 2004 hardcover (London) is the true first edition of the work; Follett's primary publisher was Macmillan in London. The Dutton edition is the first US edition, issued the same year. Book-club and later printings lack the full first-printing number line ending in 1 and are usually unpriced; they are not first printings.
• World Without End — 2007 · DuttonFor the US Dutton first printing, look for a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and a price-intact dust jacket. Sequel to The Pillars of the Earth in the Kingsbridge series. This is the US issue. The UK Macmillan 2007 hardcover is the true first edition of the work; the Dutton 2007 edition is the first US edition. The original note correctly named the UK Macmillan edition but wrongly designated Dutton the true first. Book-club and later reprint copies lack the full first-printing number line ending in 1 and are typically unpriced; they are not first printings.
• Fall of Giants — 2010 · DuttonFor the US Dutton first printing (ISBN 978-0-525-95165-0), the copyright page reads 'First printing, October 2010' with the publisher's split number line (odds ascending, evens descending: 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2). Bound in red boards quarter-bound in black with gilt spine lettering and the author's initials to the front board, with pictorial map endpapers; the first-issue dust jacket should retain its printed…. Fall of Giants was a near-simultaneous worldwide publication in late September 2010, with the UK Macmillan and US Dutton first printings appearing together; neither cleanly precedes the other. The UK Macmillan edition (a thick octavo of about 851 pages in publisher's boards with map endpapers) is generally treated as the first edition for a British author, so a blanket 'US Dutton first' claim is not supportable. Book-club and later printings lack the full first-printing number line and the 'First printing, October 2010' statement, and are usually unpriced; they are not first printings.
• Winter of the World — 2012 · DuttonFor the US Dutton first printing (September 2012), look for a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and a price-intact dust jacket. Volume two of the Century Trilogy. This is the US issue. Released as a near-simultaneous worldwide publication in September 2012, with UK Macmillan and US Dutton first printings appearing together. The UK Macmillan edition is generally treated as the first edition for this British author, so 'US Dutton first' is not supportable. Book-club and later printings lack the full first-printing number line ending in 1 and are usually unpriced; they are not first printings.
• Edge of Eternity — 2014 · DuttonFor the US Dutton first printing (September 2014), look for a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and a price-intact dust jacket. Volume three of the Century Trilogy. This is the US issue. Released as a near-simultaneous worldwide publication in September 2014, with UK Macmillan and US Dutton first printings appearing together. The UK Macmillan edition is generally treated as the first edition for this British author, so 'US Dutton first' is not supportable. Book-club and later printings lack the full first-printing number line ending in 1 and are usually unpriced; they are not first printings.
• A Column of Fire — 2017 · VikingThe US Viking (Viking, an imprint of Penguin) first printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. The octavo volume of roughly 916 pages is bound in original half cloth with pictorial (illustrated) endpapers, and is issued in a pictorial dust jacket whose front flap bears the printed price (present and unclipped on an unaltered first-issue jacket). A Kingsbridge (Pillars of the Earth)…. Published September 12, 2017. The US Viking edition and the UK Macmillan edition both appeared in 2017 as first editions; the Viking printing with a complete number line ending in 1 is the standard US first. Collectors treat the UK Macmillan and US Viking issues as parallel firsts of their respective markets rather than one preceding the other outright. Later printings lack the complete descending number line ending in 1; confirm the terminal 1 on the copyright page to distinguish the first printing from subsequent Viking printings.

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