The points of issue
Copyright page carries a complete descending number line ending in 1. First-issue jacket is unclipped with the original printed price. The earliest printing is also noted to carry the full text of the third line on page 300, present without an errata slip.
Is this the true first?
The U.S. Putnam hardcover of 1985 is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and is identified by a blind stamp on the rear board; smaller and lighter than the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Cat Who Walks Through Walls a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page carries a complete descending number line ending in 1. First-issue jacket is unclipped with the original printed price. The earliest printing is also noted to carry the full text of the third line on page 300, present without an errata slip.
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 U.S. Putnam hardcover of 1985 is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and is identified by a blind stamp on the rear board; smaller and lighter than the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Cat Who Walks Through Walls — 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.