The points of issue
Issued as a Bantam hardcover original; first printing carries the publisher's first-edition statement and a priced dust jacket. Black cloth-and-board binding with silver spine stamping.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1982 Bantam Books (New York) hardcover. The UK edition followed from Michael Joseph in 1983.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Book Club Edition exists; identify it by the blind-stamped mark on the rear board and the absence of a jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pinball a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Issued as a Bantam hardcover original; first printing carries the publisher's first-edition statement and a priced dust jacket. Black cloth-and-board binding with silver spine stamping.
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. True first is the 1982 Bantam Books (New York) hardcover. The UK edition followed from Michael Joseph in 1983.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Book Club Edition exists; identify it by the blind-stamped mark on the rear board and the absence of a jacket price.
I have a first edition of Pinball — 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.