The points of issue
Avon paperback original, 1978; copyright page states First Avon Printing with a 1978 date. McCammon's first novel.
Is this the true first?
PBO; the first hardcover was the UK Chivers Press edition of 1985, with Subterranean Press issuing a limited hardcover in 2011. There was no Dark Harvest edition of this title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (PBO).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Baal a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Avon paperback original, 1978; copyright page states First Avon Printing with a 1978 date. McCammon's first novel.
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. PBO; the first hardcover was the UK Chivers Press edition of 1985, with Subterranean Press issuing a limited hardcover in 2011. There was no Dark Harvest edition of this title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (PBO).
I have a first edition of Baal — 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.