The points of issue
Published in both London and New York in 1991. The US first printing states First Edition with a full number line including 1. The original one-volume 1991 edition is the first; the novel was later reissued split into two volumes. A US signed limited issue of 500 numbered copies (plus 26 lettered) was also published.
Is this the true first?
UK and US HarperCollins editions both appeared in 1991; month-level precedence is not firmly established, and the official Barker bibliography lists the UK edition first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A 1991 book club edition exists: no price on the jacket, no full number line, smaller and lighter than the trade edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Imajica a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Published in both London and New York in 1991. The US first printing states First Edition with a full number line including 1. The original one-volume 1991 edition is the first; the novel was later reissued split into two volumes. A US signed limited issue of 500 numbered copies (plus 26 lettered) was also published.
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. UK and US HarperCollins editions both appeared in 1991; month-level precedence is not firmly established, and the official Barker bibliography lists the UK edition first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A 1991 book club edition exists: no price on the jacket, no full number line, smaller and lighter than the trade edition.
I have a first edition of Imajica — 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.