The points of issue
Putnam trade first (June 1985) states "First Edition" on the copyright page with no further number line. The deluxe issue is the Scream/Press signed/limited (October 1985): 1,000 copies, illustrated by J.K. Potter, signed by both King and Potter on a dedication page, with a fold-out color poster laid in and a matching slipcase. The Scream/Press edition also adds the story "The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson."
Is this the true first?
The Putnam trade is the true first; the Scream/Press limited is the prized signed issue and contains an additional story not in the trade.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition carries the Putnam imprint but lacks the jacket price, has a rear-board gutter-code blind stamp, and lighter boards. The Scream/Press limited is signed, numbered, and slipcased.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Skeleton Crew a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Putnam trade first (June 1985) states "First Edition" on the copyright page with no further number line. The deluxe issue is the Scream/Press signed/limited (October 1985): 1,000 copies, illustrated by J.K. Potter, signed by both King and Potter on a dedication page, with a fold-out color poster laid in and a matching slipcase. The Scream/Press edition also adds the story "The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson."
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 Putnam trade is the true first; the Scream/Press limited is the prized signed issue and contains an additional story not in the trade.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book-club edition carries the Putnam imprint but lacks the jacket price, has a rear-board gutter-code blind stamp, and lighter boards. The Scream/Press limited is signed, numbered, and slipcased.
I have a first edition of Skeleton Crew — 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.