The points of issue
US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original, 1987 (cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon); first printing per the number line ending in '1' on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US Bantam Spectra paperback original, 1987, is the true first; there was no preceding hardcover. Winner of the 1988 Philip K. Dick Award (for the 1987 publication year).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reissues are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Strange Toys a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original, 1987 (cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon); first printing per the number line ending in '1' on the copyright page.
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 Bantam Spectra paperback original, 1987, is the true first; there was no preceding hardcover. Winner of the 1988 Philip K. Dick Award (for the 1987 publication year).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reissues are reprints.
I have a first edition of Strange Toys — 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.