# Is "Idoru" by William Gibson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Idoru by William Gibson (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1996) is identified by: Putnam's Sons (New York) first edition, first printing: octavo of 308 pages in black boards with metallic (silver) spine lettering, in the original pictorial dust jacket. The US Putnam edition (published 9 September 1996) precedes the UK Viking hardcover (early October 1996), making the US Putnam the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York) first edition, first printing: octavo of 308 pages in black boards with metallic (silver) spine lettering, in the original pictorial dust jacket
- The first printing carries a complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page
- The first-issue jacket displays the printed cover price on the front flap; the price should be present (a supplied or facsimile jacket, or a clipped flap, is a lesser state)
- The Viking (London) hardcover is also dated 1996 and shows the figure 1 in its impression line
- Publisher imprint reads G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Gibson |
| Publisher | G.P. Putnam's Sons |
| Year | 1996 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York) first edition, first printing: octavo of 308 pages in black boards with metallic (silver) spine lettering, in… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York) first edition, first printing: octavo of 308 pages in black boards with metallic (silver) spine lettering, in the original pictorial dust jacket. The first printing carries a complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page. The first-issue jacket displays the printed cover price on the front flap; the price should be present (a supplied or facsimile jacket, or a clipped flap, is a lesser state). The Viking (London) hardcover is also dated 1996 and shows the figure 1 in its impression line.

## Is this the true first?
The US Putnam edition (published 9 September 1996) precedes the UK Viking hardcover (early October 1996), making the US Putnam the true first edition. Second volume of the Bridge trilogy, following Virtual Light.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Science Fiction Book Club issue exists and is distinguished by the blind gutter dot (blind stamp) on the rear board and by a jacket lacking the printed cover price; the trade first printing carries the full number line to 1 and a priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Idoru* by William Gibson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/idoru
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.