The points of issue
US Putnam first hardcover, 1977, with a 1977 copyright and no later-printing statement or reprint line. Dealer-confirmed first printings carry the original price on the jacket. World Fantasy Award winner (1978).
Is this the true first?
The US Putnam hardcover is the true first edition. The novel expands Leiber's earlier novella 'The Pale Brown Thing.' An uncorrected proof of the first edition exists and precedes the trade issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition dominates this title; the principal trap is the later mass-market paperback rather than a BCE. Confirm the Putnam imprint, 1977 date, and a priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Our Lady of Darkness a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Putnam first hardcover, 1977, with a 1977 copyright and no later-printing statement or reprint line. Dealer-confirmed first printings carry the original price on the jacket. World Fantasy Award winner (1978).
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 US Putnam hardcover is the true first edition. The novel expands Leiber's earlier novella 'The Pale Brown Thing.' An uncorrected proof of the first edition exists and precedes the trade issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club edition dominates this title; the principal trap is the later mass-market paperback rather than a BCE. Confirm the Putnam imprint, 1977 date, and a priced jacket.
I have a first edition of Our Lady of Darkness — 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.