The points of issue
Grant first edition, first printing: 10,000 trade copies plus 500 signed and numbered slipcased copies. Illustrated by Michael Whelan. Copyright page states First Edition with no later-printing notice; the 1984 second printing (also 10,000 copies) is identified as such on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The Grant edition is the true first; no prior trade publication. The 500-copy signed and numbered issue is the signed limited first. The NAL/Plume trade reprint followed in 1988.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not applicable; the later NAL/Plume trade is a reprint, not a club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Grant first edition, first printing: 10,000 trade copies plus 500 signed and numbered slipcased copies. Illustrated by Michael Whelan. Copyright page states First Edition with no later-printing notice; the 1984 second printing (also 10,000 copies) is identified as such on the copyright page.
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 Grant edition is the true first; no prior trade publication. The 500-copy signed and numbered issue is the signed limited first. The NAL/Plume trade reprint followed in 1988.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Not applicable; the later NAL/Plume trade is a reprint, not a club edition.
I have a first edition of The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger — 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.