The points of issue
Sphere paperback original, London, 1985. First printing shows the 1985 Sphere first-edition statement with no later-printing notice; Sphere reprinted in 1987.
Is this the true first?
The 1985 Sphere paperback original is the true first edition. Weidenfeld & Nicolson issued a UK hardcover the same year (with a 200-copy signed and boxed limited issue). No separate US trade volume appeared; the stories reached the US later, notably in the expanded US edition of Cabal (Poseidon, 1988) and a 1991 Scream/Press signed limited, with a 1995 Lord of Illusions tie-in paperback.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No US book club edition of this volume exists, unlike the retitled volumes 4 and 5. Later Sphere printings, the 1991 Macdonald hardcover, and the 1995 Lord of Illusions tie-in reissues are not firsts.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Clive Barker's Books of Blood, Volume 6 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Sphere paperback original, London, 1985. First printing shows the 1985 Sphere first-edition statement with no later-printing notice; Sphere reprinted in 1987.
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 1985 Sphere paperback original is the true first edition. Weidenfeld & Nicolson issued a UK hardcover the same year (with a 200-copy signed and boxed limited issue). No separate US trade volume appeared; the stories reached the US later, notably in the expanded US edition of Cabal (Poseidon, 198
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No US book club edition of this volume exists, unlike the retitled volumes 4 and 5. Later Sphere printings, the 1991 Macdonald hardcover, and the 1995 Lord of Illusions tie-in reissues are not firsts.
I have a first edition of Clive Barker's Books of Blood, Volume 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.