The points of issue
Discworld 18. UK Gollancz, published 2 November 1995 (ISBN 0-575-05808-0). Copyright page states first publication by Victor Gollancz 1995 with no impression statement; reprints add one. The By This Author list should include nothing published after Maskerade. Original boards with Josh Kirby letterbox-style dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
UK Gollancz true first; the US HarperPrism edition follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions carry an impression statement on the copyright page; book club (BCA) copies differ from the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Maskerade a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Discworld 18. UK Gollancz, published 2 November 1995 (ISBN 0-575-05808-0). Copyright page states first publication by Victor Gollancz 1995 with no impression statement; reprints add one. The By This Author list should include nothing published after Maskerade. Original boards with Josh Kirby letterbox-style dust jacket.
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 Gollancz true first; the US HarperPrism edition follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions carry an impression statement on the copyright page; book club (BCA) copies differ from the trade first.
I have a first edition of Maskerade — 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.