The points of issue
Discworld 10. First impression of 18,200 copies published 1 November 1990; no reprint or later-impression statement on the first. Reprinted three times, twice in November and once in December 1990. First-issue jacket has the front-cover title in blue and red, an orange spine background, and the Gollancz SF logo at the head of the spine; a later jacket printing changed the title to black and red, the spine to pink, and moved the logo to the tail, and copies of all four printings were rejacketed with it, so the copyright page, not the jacket, is decisive.
Is this the true first?
UK Gollancz true first; US publication followed. A first impression in the first-issue orange-spine jacket is the most desirable state.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The November and December 1990 reprints, rejacketed copies, and Corgi paperbacks are not firsts.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Moving Pictures a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Discworld 10. First impression of 18,200 copies published 1 November 1990; no reprint or later-impression statement on the first. Reprinted three times, twice in November and once in December 1990. First-issue jacket has the front-cover title in blue and red, an orange spine background, and the Gollancz SF logo at the head of the spine; a later jacket printing changed the title to black and red, the spine to pink, and moved the logo to the tail, and copies of all four printings were rejacketed with it, so the copyright page, not the jacket, is decisive.
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; US publication followed. A first impression in the first-issue orange-spine jacket is the most desirable state.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The November and December 1990 reprints, rejacketed copies, and Corgi paperbacks are not firsts.
I have a first edition of Moving Pictures — 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.