The points of issue
Viking trade first, first printing: copyright page states First published in 1993 by Viking Penguin with full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2; jacket price 23.50 on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Viking true first; UK Hodder & Stoughton edition follows. Sometimes catalogued as 1992 because copies shipped in late 1992 and the copyright date is 1992, but the copyright page states first published in 1993.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies carry BCE markings and no jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dolores Claiborne a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Viking trade first, first printing: copyright page states First published in 1993 by Viking Penguin with full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2; jacket price 23.50 on the front flap.
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. US Viking true first; UK Hodder & Stoughton edition follows. Sometimes catalogued as 1992 because copies shipped in late 1992 and the copyright date is 1992, but the copyright page states first published in 1993.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies carry BCE markings and no jacket price.
I have a first edition of Dolores Claiborne — 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.