The points of issue
The true first is identified by the statement 'First Bluejay printing: August 1985' on the copyright page. This dated printing statement is the single reliable point. There is no descending number line on the genuine first, so do not look for one. The jacket carries a printed price (copies are described as not price-clipped), but the price is a secondary indicator, not a defining point. Issued as a 'Bluejay International Edition'; Locus- and Arthur C. Clarke Award-nominated.
Is this the true first?
The US Bluejay Books hardcover is the true first; the UK Gollancz edition follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Science Fiction Book Club printing lacks the 'First Bluejay printing' statement, carries a rear-board gutter blindstamp, and uses an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Eon a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first is identified by the statement 'First Bluejay printing: August 1985' on the copyright page. This dated printing statement is the single reliable point. There is no descending number line on the genuine first, so do not look for one. The jacket carries a printed price (copies are described as not price-clipped), but the price is a secondary indicator, not a defining point. Issued as a 'Bluejay International Edition'; Locus- and Arthur C. Clarke Award-nominated.
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 Bluejay Books hardcover is the true first; the UK Gollancz edition follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Science Fiction Book Club printing lacks the 'First Bluejay printing' statement, carries a rear-board gutter blindstamp, and uses an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket.
I have a first edition of Eon — 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.