The points of issue
Viking trade first, first printing: first-published statement and full number line including the 1 on the copyright page; jacket price 23.50 on the front flap (flap coded 0992).
Is this the true first?
US Viking true first; UK Hodder & Stoughton edition follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies carry BCE markings and no jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Gerald's Game a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Viking trade first, first printing: first-published statement and full number line including the 1 on the copyright page; jacket price 23.50 on the front flap (flap coded 0992).
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.
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 Gerald's Game — 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.