The points of issue
Dark Harvest first edition, Arlington Heights, Illinois, with an introduction by Harlan Ellison; issued as a trade edition plus a signed limited edition of 550 numbered copies signed by Simmons and illustrators Ron and Val Lakey Lindahn, and a 52-copy lettered issue. Story collection.
Is this the true first?
Dark Harvest true first; the UK Headline edition followed. The signed limited is the collectible issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; specialty press publication.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Prayers to Broken Stones a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Dark Harvest first edition, Arlington Heights, Illinois, with an introduction by Harlan Ellison; issued as a trade edition plus a signed limited edition of 550 numbered copies signed by Simmons and illustrators Ron and Val Lakey Lindahn, and a 52-copy lettered issue. Story collection.
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. Dark Harvest true first; the UK Headline edition followed. The signed limited is the collectible issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; specialty press publication.
I have a first edition of Prayers to Broken Stones — 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.