The points of issue
US William Morrow hardcover, 1985 (US publication May 1985); ISBN 0-688-04507-X (9780688045074). Look for stated 'First Edition' and a number line ending in 1; jacketed octavo. Became a bestseller in later paperback.
Is this the true first?
US William Morrow 1985 is the US true first. The UK Sidgwick & Jackson edition (ISBN 0283990619) is a separate, simultaneous British first published the same year; the two are distinct true firsts for their respective markets rather than one preceding the other.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The overwhelmingly common copies are mass-market paperback reprints (Ballantine, Berkley); only the 1985 Morrow cloth hardcover with the first-printing number line is the US first edition. The 2024 HarperCollins reissue (ISBN 0063354594) is a new edition, not a first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US William Morrow hardcover, 1985 (US publication May 1985); ISBN 0-688-04507-X (9780688045074). Look for stated 'First Edition' and a number line ending in 1; jacketed octavo. Became a bestseller in later paperback.
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 William Morrow 1985 is the US true first. The UK Sidgwick & Jackson edition (ISBN 0283990619) is a separate, simultaneous British first published the same year; the two are distinct true firsts for their respective markets rather than one preceding the other.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The overwhelmingly common copies are mass-market paperback reprints (Ballantine, Berkley); only the 1985 Morrow cloth hardcover with the first-printing number line is the US first edition. The 2024 HarperCollins reissue (ISBN 0063354594) is a new edition, not a first.
I have a first edition of Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga — 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.