The points of issue
First printing states First Edition on the copyright page (Holt convention) with no later-printing line, in original cloth with the first-issue jacket retaining the original price. First of the five Chronicles of Prydain.
Is this the true first?
The US Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1964 edition is the true first; the UK edition is later. The jacket art is by Evaline Ness.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the First Edition statement, carry a blind-stamp to the rear board, and have a price-clipped or unpriced jacket. Later printings note additional printings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 1) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing states First Edition on the copyright page (Holt convention) with no later-printing line, in original cloth with the first-issue jacket retaining the original price. First of the five Chronicles of Prydain.
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 US Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1964 edition is the true first; the UK edition is later. The jacket art is by Evaline Ness.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions omit the First Edition statement, carry a blind-stamp to the rear board, and have a price-clipped or unpriced jacket. Later printings note additional printings.
I have a first edition of The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 1) — 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.