The points of issue
Cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering; dust jacket with UK price. Later printings break the number line or state a later impression.
Is this the true first?
UK Viking (March 1988) precedes the US Poseidon Press edition (September 1988); the dust jacket itself notes UK March and Canadian April 1988 dates.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the publisher's price and full number line; later impressions are stated on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Out of This World a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering; dust jacket with UK price. Later printings break the number line or state a later impression.
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 Viking (March 1988) precedes the US Poseidon Press edition (September 1988); the dust jacket itself notes UK March and Canadian April 1988 dates.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issues lack the publisher's price and full number line; later impressions are stated on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Out of This World — 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.