The points of issue
First US edition carries the 'First Printing' statement with a complete 1-through-10 number line (the numeral 1 present); first-issue dust jacket carries the printed cover price. Expanded from the novelette 'Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand' (1973).
Is this the true first?
The US Houghton Mifflin 1978 hardcover is the true first edition. The UK Gollancz edition (1979) is later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Science Fiction Book Club edition has the blind-stamp on the rear board, lacks the complete number line / 'First Printing' point, and carries a club jacket with no printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dreamsnake a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US edition carries the 'First Printing' statement with a complete 1-through-10 number line (the numeral 1 present); first-issue dust jacket carries the printed cover price. Expanded from the novelette 'Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand' (1973).
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 Houghton Mifflin 1978 hardcover is the true first edition. The UK Gollancz edition (1979) is later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Science Fiction Book Club edition has the blind-stamp on the rear board, lacks the complete number line / 'First Printing' point, and carries a club jacket with no printed price.
I have a first edition of Dreamsnake — 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.