The points of issue
UK Sphere paperback originals (1985), priced 1.50 net, the same paperback-original format as Volumes 1-3. Weidenfeld & Nicolson issued hardcovers of these volumes in 1985-1986, but those followed the Sphere paperbacks rather than preceding them.
Is this the true first?
The original record's claim that Volumes 4-6 were hardcover-first (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) and thus the reverse of Volumes 1-3 is incorrect. All six volumes were Sphere paperback originals; the Sphere paperback is the true UK first for Volumes 4-6 as well. The Weidenfeld hardcovers are near-simultaneous but later, and the US retitled editions (such as The Inhuman Condition and In the Flesh) are later still.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition of the paperback original. The Weidenfeld & Nicolson hardcovers and signed limited boxed sets are first thus, not the primary first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Books of Blood, Volumes 4-6 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Sphere paperback originals (1985), priced 1.50 net, the same paperback-original format as Volumes 1-3. Weidenfeld & Nicolson issued hardcovers of these volumes in 1985-1986, but those followed the Sphere paperbacks rather than preceding them.
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 original record's claim that Volumes 4-6 were hardcover-first (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) and thus the reverse of Volumes 1-3 is incorrect. All six volumes were Sphere paperback originals; the Sphere paperback is the true UK first for Volumes 4-6 as well. The Weidenfeld hardcovers are near-simultane
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition of the paperback original. The Weidenfeld & Nicolson hardcovers and signed limited boxed sets are first thus, not the primary first edition.
I have a first edition of Books of Blood, Volumes 4-6 — 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.