# Is "Books of Blood, Volumes I–III" by Clive Barker a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Books of Blood, Volumes I–III by Clive Barker (Sphere, 1984) is identified by: The true textual firsts are the Sphere paperback originals, Volumes I, II and III, published in London in 1984 at 1.the printed price, with Barker's own cover paintings. The Sphere paperbacks are the true textual firsts (Volumes I–III, 1984; IV–VI, 1985).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The true textual firsts are the Sphere paperback originals, Volumes I, II and III, published in London in 1984 at 1.the printed price, with Barker's own cover paintings
- The Weidenfeld & Nicolson hardcovers followed in 1985
- For the W&N hardcover firsts, look for the publisher's statement on the copyright page and the absence of any later-printing line
- Publisher imprint reads Sphere
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Clive Barker |
| Publisher | Sphere |
| Year | 1984 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The true textual firsts are the Sphere paperback originals, Volumes I, II and III, published in London in 1984 at 1.the printed price, with… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
The true textual firsts are the Sphere paperback originals, Volumes I, II and III, published in London in 1984 at 1.the printed price, with Barker's own cover paintings. The Weidenfeld & Nicolson hardcovers followed in 1985. For the W&N hardcover firsts, look for the publisher's statement on the copyright page and the absence of any later-printing line.

## Is this the true first?
The Sphere paperbacks are the true textual firsts (Volumes I–III, 1984; IV–VI, 1985). The W&N hardcovers (1985–1986) and the US Poseidon hardcovers came afterward. W&N also issued a signed, boxed hardcover limited edition of 200 copies in 1985, which is the deluxe state collectors prize.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition is the principal trap; the real pitfalls are later Sphere reprints (check the copyright page for added printing numbers) and the retitled or repackaged US volumes such as The Inhuman Condition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Books of Blood, Volumes I–III* by Clive Barker a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/books-of-blood-volumes-i-iii
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.