The points of issue
Land of Enchantment issued the book in 1983 with twelve Berni Wrightson color illustrations in three states: a signed, numbered, slipcased limited of 350 copies signed by King and Wrightson, divided into 100 collector copies (numbered 1 to 100, each with an original Wrightson drawing laid in) and 250 deluxe copies (numbered 101 to 350, accompanied by a Wrightson portfolio); plus an unsigned trade hardcover of about 7,500 copies. This was the only hardcover edition.
Is this the true first?
The 1983 Land of Enchantment signed/numbered limited is the true collectible first, with the trade hardcover issued alongside. The 1985 NAL Silver Bullet paperback is a later movie-tie-in issue, not a first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
There is no standard book club edition. Do not confuse the common 1985 Silver Bullet trade paperback with the 1983 Land of Enchantment first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Cycle of the Werewolf a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Land of Enchantment issued the book in 1983 with twelve Berni Wrightson color illustrations in three states: a signed, numbered, slipcased limited of 350 copies signed by King and Wrightson, divided into 100 collector copies (numbered 1 to 100, each with an original Wrightson drawing laid in) and 250 deluxe copies (numbered 101 to 350, accompanied by a Wrightson portfolio); plus an unsigned trade hardcover of about 7,500 copies. This was the only hardcover edition.
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 1983 Land of Enchantment signed/numbered limited is the true collectible first, with the trade hardcover issued alongside. The 1985 NAL Silver Bullet paperback is a later movie-tie-in issue, not a first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
There is no standard book club edition. Do not confuse the common 1985 Silver Bullet trade paperback with the 1983 Land of Enchantment first.
I have a first edition of Cycle of the Werewolf — 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.