# Is "Equal Rites" by Terry Pratchett a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett (Victor Gollancz in association with Colin Smythe, 1987) is identified by: Discworld 3; the first Discworld novel issued by Gollancz. UK Gollancz/Colin Smythe joint-imprint first impression is the true first; the first two Discworld books had come from Colin Smythe alone.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Discworld 3; the first Discworld novel issued by Gollancz
- First impression of 2,850 copies published 15 January 1987, with the title page reading Victor Gollancz in association with Colin Smythe; once Smythe became Pratchett's agent the co-publishing ceased and later printings appear under Gollancz's sole imprint
- First impression carries no reprint or later-impression statement
- Green boards lettered gilt on the spine; dust jacket with Josh Kirby artwork, flap priced 9.the printed price, not the plain yellow Gollancz house jacket
- Publisher imprint reads Victor Gollancz in association with Colin Smythe
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Terry Pratchett |
| Publisher | Victor Gollancz in association with Colin Smythe |
| Year | 1987 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Discworld 3; the first Discworld novel issued by Gollancz |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Discworld 3; the first Discworld novel issued by Gollancz. First impression of 2,850 copies published 15 January 1987, with the title page reading Victor Gollancz in association with Colin Smythe; once Smythe became Pratchett's agent the co-publishing ceased and later printings appear under Gollancz's sole imprint. First impression carries no reprint or later-impression statement. Green boards lettered gilt on the spine; dust jacket with Josh Kirby artwork, flap priced 9.the printed price, not the plain yellow Gollancz house jacket.

## Is this the true first?
UK Gollancz/Colin Smythe joint-imprint first impression is the true first; the first two Discworld books had come from Colin Smythe alone. US publication followed in 1988 via NAL, with the Signet paperback issued September 1988.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Gollancz-only printings, BCA book club copies, and Corgi paperbacks are not firsts; the 1988 US NAL hardcover is a book club product.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Equal Rites* by Terry Pratchett a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/equal-rites
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.