# Is "The Color of Magic" by Terry Pratchett a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (Colin Smythe, 1983) is identified by: First American issue: St. The UK Colin Smythe hardcover (about 506 copies) is the collectors' true first and the publisher of record for Discworld; see the-colour-of-magic.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First American issue: St
- Martin's Press, New York, 1983
- The 1983 US hardcover retained the British title spelling 'The Colour of Magic' on the title page — the American 'Color' spelling appears only on later US printings and paperbacks
- Martin's printed the sheets and jackets for BOTH issues (4,540 copies total); after about 506 went to Colin Smythe for the UK issue, the balance formed the larger US issue
- Jacket art is by Alan Smith (NOT Josh Kirby)
- The US issue is distinguished from the scarcer UK Smythe issue by the printed US price on the dust-jacket front flap (the UK issue carries no printed price, only a Smythe sticker)
- Publisher imprint reads Colin Smythe

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Terry Pratchett |
| Publisher | Colin Smythe |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First American issue: St |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First American issue: St. Martin's Press, New York, 1983. The 1983 US hardcover retained the British title spelling 'The Colour of Magic' on the title page — the American 'Color' spelling appears only on later US printings and paperbacks. St. Martin's printed the sheets and jackets for BOTH issues (4,540 copies total); after about 506 went to Colin Smythe for the UK issue, the balance formed the larger US issue. Jacket art is by Alan Smith (NOT Josh Kirby). The US issue is distinguished from the scarcer UK Smythe issue by the printed US price on the dust-jacket front flap (the UK issue carries no printed price, only a Smythe sticker). Green cloth-effect boards, gilt spine. St. Martin's rarely stated 'First Edition' or used a reliable number line in this period, so identify by the St. Martin's imprint, the 1983 date, and the priced first-issue jacket rather than a printing statement.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Colin Smythe hardcover (about 506 copies) is the collectors' true first and the publisher of record for Discworld; see the-colour-of-magic. By date the US St. Martin's issue actually appeared slightly earlier (cited ~21 October 1983) than the delayed Smythe issue (24 November 1983), but the far scarcer Smythe issue is the one collectors prize. Both issues are the same 1983 setting of type, printed by St. Martin's; this American-spelling page covers the larger US issue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A US book-club edition (BCE) exists and is common; distinguish it by the ABSENCE of a printed price on the jacket flap (the true US first issue shows the printed price) and by the usual book-club tells (blind stamp to the rear board, cheaper boards). The 1985 Corgi paperback (Josh Kirby art) and a later Colin Smythe / Discworld.com facsimile are separate and later.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Color of Magic* by Terry Pratchett a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-color-of-magic
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.