The points of issue
New English Library (UK) mass-market paperback original, published February 1986. Second book in the Beast House Chronicles, following The Cellar. No hardcover was issued at first publication.
Is this the true first?
The NEL UK paperback original is the true first; US editions and later UK hardcover reissues followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A paperback original, so book club hardcovers are not a concern; any hardcover copy is a later edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Beast House a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: New English Library (UK) mass-market paperback original, published February 1986. Second book in the Beast House Chronicles, following The Cellar. No hardcover was issued at first publication.
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 NEL UK paperback original is the true first; US editions and later UK hardcover reissues followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A paperback original, so book club hardcovers are not a concern; any hardcover copy is a later edition.
I have a first edition of The Beast House — 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.