The points of issue
Putnam hardcover first, identified by the printed price on the jacket front flap and the absence of any later-printing statement on the copyright page. (Treat any claimed number-line state cautiously for this early-1980s Putnam title rather than as a settled point.)
Is this the true first?
US Putnam (1983) is the true first; the UK W.H. Allen edition followed in 1983.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Putnam book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and carries a blind-stamped dot to the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Phantoms a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Putnam hardcover first, identified by the printed price on the jacket front flap and the absence of any later-printing statement on the copyright page. (Treat any claimed number-line state cautiously for this early-1980s Putnam title rather than as a settled point.)
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. US Putnam (1983) is the true first; the UK W.H. Allen edition followed in 1983.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Putnam book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and carries a blind-stamped dot to the rear board.
I have a first edition of Phantoms — 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.