# Is "Count Zero" by William Gibson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Count Zero by William Gibson (Victor Gollancz, London, 1986) is identified by: First UK Gollancz hardcover, 1986, in the characteristic yellow Gollancz jacket, with the printed price on the flap and no later-printing statement. The UK Gollancz hardcover is the true first, preceding the US Arbor House edition (also 1986).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First UK Gollancz hardcover, 1986, in the characteristic yellow Gollancz jacket, with the printed price on the flap and no later-printing statement
- Second Sprawl novel
- Publisher imprint reads Victor Gollancz, London
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Gibson |
| Publisher | Victor Gollancz, London |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First UK Gollancz hardcover, 1986, in the characteristic yellow Gollancz jacket, with the printed price on the flap and no later-printing… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First UK Gollancz hardcover, 1986, in the characteristic yellow Gollancz jacket, with the printed price on the flap and no later-printing statement. Second Sprawl novel.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Gollancz hardcover is the true first, preceding the US Arbor House edition (also 1986). Dealers consistently describe the Gollancz as the true first and the Arbor House as the first American edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Arbor House and US book-club editions are later; a club edition typically shows a rear-board gutter blindstamp and an unpriced jacket. The UK Gollancz has no priority club analog.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Count Zero* by William Gibson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/count-zero
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.