The points of issue
US Poseidon Press hardcover, 1983; first printing has a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The Poseidon trade hardcover and a Nemo Press signed, numbered, slipcased limited edition of 500 copies appeared essentially simultaneously in 1983; the Poseidon issue is the trade first. UK follows. Its commercial failure pushed Martin toward television work.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition differs.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Armageddon Rag a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Poseidon Press hardcover, 1983; first printing has a 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. The Poseidon trade hardcover and a Nemo Press signed, numbered, slipcased limited edition of 500 copies appeared essentially simultaneously in 1983; the Poseidon issue is the trade first. UK follows. Its commercial failure pushed Martin toward television work.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition differs.
I have a first edition of The Armageddon Rag — 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.