The points of issue
Viking first trade edition, first printing: copyright page states First published in 1994 by Viking Penguin with full number line including the 1; jacket price 27.95. The Mark V. Ziesing limited edition, illustrated by Phil Hale, appeared first: 1,250 leather-bound numbered copies signed by King, Hale, and designer Arnie Fenner, 52 lettered copies, and an unsigned slipcased gift issue of 3,750.
Is this the true first?
The Ziesing limited edition preceded the Viking trade release by several months, so it is the true first; the Viking is the first trade edition and the standard collected form.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies of the Viking edition carry BCE markings and no jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Insomnia a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Viking first trade edition, first printing: copyright page states First published in 1994 by Viking Penguin with full number line including the 1; jacket price 27.95. The Mark V. Ziesing limited edition, illustrated by Phil Hale, appeared first: 1,250 leather-bound numbered copies signed by King, Hale, and designer Arnie Fenner, 52 lettered copies, and an unsigned slipcased gift issue of 3,750.
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. The Ziesing limited edition preceded the Viking trade release by several months, so it is the true first; the Viking is the first trade edition and the standard collected form.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies of the Viking edition carry BCE markings and no jacket price.
I have a first edition of Insomnia — 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.