The points of issue
Cape first, published 26 March 1956 (Gilbert A4a); black cloth blind-stamped with a silver-gilt diamond device on the front board, lettered in silver on the spine. First-issue jacket priced 12s 6d net. Verso carries a single impression line.
Is this the true first?
UK Cape (1956) precedes the US Macmillan edition (October 1956), so the UK printing is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add printing lines; reprints reset.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Diamonds Are Forever a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cape first, published 26 March 1956 (Gilbert A4a); black cloth blind-stamped with a silver-gilt diamond device on the front board, lettered in silver on the spine. First-issue jacket priced 12s 6d net. Verso carries a single impression line.
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. UK Cape (1956) precedes the US Macmillan edition (October 1956), so the UK printing is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions add printing lines; reprints reset.
I have a first edition of Diamonds Are Forever — 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.