The points of issue
The 1981 Bantam edition was a trade-paperback original, not a hardcover. There was no simultaneous Bantam hardcover. The first printing is identified on the copyright page; the wrappers and cover art are as issued. Won the 1982 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
Is this the true first?
The true first is the US Bantam 1981 trade-paperback original. The first edition in hardcover was the UK Gollancz edition of 1982, which dealers describe as the first British and first hardcover edition. A US hardcover did not appear until much later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Because the first US edition is itself a paperback original, hardcover claims for a 1981 'first' are mistaken. The genuine first is the 1981 Bantam paperback confirmed by the copyright-page first-printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Little, Big a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The 1981 Bantam edition was a trade-paperback original, not a hardcover. There was no simultaneous Bantam hardcover. The first printing is identified on the copyright page; the wrappers and cover art are as issued. Won the 1982 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
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 true first is the US Bantam 1981 trade-paperback original. The first edition in hardcover was the UK Gollancz edition of 1982, which dealers describe as the first British and first hardcover edition. A US hardcover did not appear until much later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Because the first US edition is itself a paperback original, hardcover claims for a 1981 'first' are mistaken. The genuine first is the 1981 Bantam paperback confirmed by the copyright-page first-printing statement.
I have a first edition of Little, Big — 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.