The points of issue
Knopf (Borzoi) first issue, identified by "First Edition" stated on the copyright page (Knopf was just beginning to add a number line in the late 1980s, so the stated wording is the reliable point) and the original price-printed dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf (1987) is the true first edition; the UK Macmillan edition also appeared in 1987.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the printed jacket price and usually carry a small blind-stamp on the lower rear board, distinct from Knopf's Borzoi device.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sphere a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf (Borzoi) first issue, identified by "First Edition" stated on the copyright page (Knopf was just beginning to add a number line in the late 1980s, so the stated wording is the reliable point) and the original price-printed dust jacket.
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 Knopf (1987) is the true first edition; the UK Macmillan edition also appeared in 1987.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the printed jacket price and usually carry a small blind-stamp on the lower rear board, distinct from Knopf's Borzoi device.
I have a first edition of Sphere — 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.