The points of issue
Bantam hardcover, octavo, cloth-backed boards; the first printing carries the statement 'A Bantam Book / July 1992 / Published simultaneously in hardcover and trade paperback' with a full number line ending in 1, and a priced dust jacket. Issued simultaneously in hardcover and trade paperback; the hardcover with the full number line is the prize.
Is this the true first?
The US Bantam 1992 hardcover is the true first; a simultaneous trade paperback exists. The UK New English Library (1992) edition is a separate first. Confirm the full number line on the hardcover copyright page.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition: no price on the jacket flap, a blind-stamp on the rear board, lacks the full number line, and uses cheaper boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Doomsday Book a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Bantam hardcover, octavo, cloth-backed boards; the first printing carries the statement 'A Bantam Book / July 1992 / Published simultaneously in hardcover and trade paperback' with a full number line ending in 1, and a priced dust jacket. Issued simultaneously in hardcover and trade paperback; the hardcover with the full number line is the prize.
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 US Bantam 1992 hardcover is the true first; a simultaneous trade paperback exists. The UK New English Library (1992) edition is a separate first. Confirm the full number line on the hardcover copyright page.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition: no price on the jacket flap, a blind-stamp on the rear board, lacks the full number line, and uses cheaper boards.
I have a first edition of Doomsday Book — 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.