The points of issue
First printing of the novella; The Bodley Head issued in original green cloth with gilt spine lettering and a Michael Harvey dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The Bodley Head London edition of 1980 is the accepted true first; Simon & Schuster issued the first US edition the same year (1980).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the novella; The Bodley Head issued in original green cloth with gilt spine lettering and a Michael Harvey dust jacket.
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 Bodley Head London edition of 1980 is the accepted true first; Simon & Schuster issued the first US edition the same year (1980).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.
I have a first edition of Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party — 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.