The points of issue
First printing identified by a complete number line including 1 on the copyright page and a priced dust jacket. Issued in publisher's cloth.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1986 Linden Press / Simon & Schuster edition (ISBN 0671606557).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Gerald's Party a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by a complete number line including 1 on the copyright page and a priced dust jacket. Issued in publisher's cloth.
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. True first is the 1986 Linden Press / Simon & Schuster edition (ISBN 0671606557).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Gerald's Party — 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.