The points of issue
US Bobbs-Merrill first hardcover (Campbell's first novel), Indianapolis, 1976, with a priced jacket and no later-printing line. The UK Millington hardcover followed in 1977.
Is this the true first?
The US Bobbs-Merrill 1976 hardcover is the true first edition; the UK Millington hardcover is the UK first. Campbell's debut novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition; the trap is the later paperback issues (UK Star, 1978, and subsequent US mass-market). Verify the Bobbs-Merrill imprint and the 1976 date.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Doll Who Ate His Mother a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Bobbs-Merrill first hardcover (Campbell's first novel), Indianapolis, 1976, with a priced jacket and no later-printing line. The UK Millington hardcover followed in 1977.
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 Bobbs-Merrill 1976 hardcover is the true first edition; the UK Millington hardcover is the UK first. Campbell's debut novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No prominent book-club edition; the trap is the later paperback issues (UK Star, 1978, and subsequent US mass-market). Verify the Bobbs-Merrill imprint and the 1976 date.
I have a first edition of The Doll Who Ate His Mother — 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.