# Is "Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card (HarperCollins, 1992) is identified by: HarperCollins hardcover with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page above the year line '92 93 94 95 96' and the printer's key 'RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (RRD is the R.R. The US HarperCollins hardcover (1992) is the true first of the novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- HarperCollins hardcover with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page above the year line '92 93 94 95 96' and the printer's key 'RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (RRD is the R.R. Donnelley printer code; the 1 present confirms first printing)
- The imprint reads 'HarperCollinsPublishers.' The dust jacket should retain its printed front-flap price
- Publisher imprint reads HarperCollins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Orson Scott Card |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Year | 1992 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | HarperCollins hardcover with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page above the year line '92 93 94 95 96' and the printer's key 'RRD… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
HarperCollins hardcover with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page above the year line '92 93 94 95 96' and the printer's key 'RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (RRD is the R.R. Donnelley printer code; the 1 present confirms first printing). The imprint reads 'HarperCollinsPublishers.' The dust jacket should retain its printed front-flap price.

## Is this the true first?
The US HarperCollins hardcover (1992) is the true first of the novel. Note the novel expands Card's earlier short story of the same title; the 1992 hardcover is the first edition of the book-length work.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
First printings have the priced jacket and the full 'RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' key; a book-club copy shows an unpriced jacket and commonly a blind-stamp on the rear board rather than the R.R. Donnelley number line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Lost Boys* by Orson Scott Card a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/lost-boys
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.