The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First published in 1979 by The Viking Press' with no number line; dust jacket carries the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The US Viking edition is the true first. The UK Macdonald edition (1979/1980) is the UK first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition has a blind-stamped gutter code on the rear board, is physically smaller and lighter, and the jacket has no printed price. The address is identical, so rely on the board code and jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Dead Zone a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First published in 1979 by The Viking Press' with no number line; dust jacket carries the printed price.
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 Viking edition is the true first. The UK Macdonald edition (1979/1980) is the UK first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book-club edition has a blind-stamped gutter code on the rear board, is physically smaller and lighter, and the jacket has no printed price. The address is identical, so rely on the board code and jacket.
I have a first edition of The Dead Zone — 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.