The points of issue
True first is the Colin Smythe Ltd hardcover, 1983 (the title is spelled 'The Colour of Magic'), with a first-printing of only about 506 copies. The dust-jacket illustration is by Alan Smith, NOT Josh Kirby. A first-issue jacket carries the original publisher blurb; a printed correction label (overlay) was later pasted over an inaccurate blurb, creating a second jacket state. Verify the Colin Smythe imprint and the first-published statement with no reprint line.
Is this the true first?
The Colin Smythe 1983 hardcover is the true first Discworld novel and is genuinely scarce. The St. Martin's US edition and the Corgi paperback are subsequent.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition for the true first. Common confusion is with the Corgi paperback (which carries the Josh Kirby cover art) and with later printings. Confirm the Colin Smythe hardcover imprint and the absence of a reprint statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Color of Magic a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the Colin Smythe Ltd hardcover, 1983 (the title is spelled 'The Colour of Magic'), with a first-printing of only about 506 copies. The dust-jacket illustration is by Alan Smith, NOT Josh Kirby. A first-issue jacket carries the original publisher blurb; a printed correction label (overlay) was later pasted over an inaccurate blurb, creating a second jacket state. Verify the Colin Smythe imprint and the first-published statement with no reprint line.
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 Colin Smythe 1983 hardcover is the true first Discworld novel and is genuinely scarce. The St. Martin's US edition and the Corgi paperback are subsequent.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition for the true first. Common confusion is with the Corgi paperback (which carries the Josh Kirby cover art) and with later printings. Confirm the Colin Smythe hardcover imprint and the absence of a reprint statement.
I have a first edition of The Color of Magic — 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.