The points of issue
M. Evans first edition; copyright page carries the number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 (a stated First Edition line is not the identifier here). WWII comic novel and Koontz's first hardcover under his own name; there was never a second hardcover printing.
Is this the true first?
M. Evans US true first; the only US hardcover printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No US book club edition is documented; a 1975 UK book-club omnibus reprint exists (three novels in one volume, issued without a jacket) and should not be confused with the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Hanging On a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: M. Evans first edition; copyright page carries the number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 (a stated First Edition line is not the identifier here). WWII comic novel and Koontz's first hardcover under his own name; there was never a second hardcover printing.
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. M. Evans US true first; the only US hardcover printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No US book club edition is documented; a 1975 UK book-club omnibus reprint exists (three novels in one volume, issued without a jacket) and should not be confused with the first.
I have a first edition of Hanging On — 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.