The points of issue
Random House first printing states 'FIRST PRINTING' on the copyright page with no later-printing notice. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. The novel introduces private investigator Murray Kirk. Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel (1959).
Is this the true first?
The US Random House edition (1958) is the true first; the UK Boardman edition (London, 1959) follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are common, identifiable by a blind-stamp and absence of a flap price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Eighth Circle a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House first printing states 'FIRST PRINTING' on the copyright page with no later-printing notice. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. The novel introduces private investigator Murray Kirk. Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel (1959).
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 Random House edition (1958) is the true first; the UK Boardman edition (London, 1959) follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are common, identifiable by a blind-stamp and absence of a flap price.
I have a first edition of The Eighth Circle — 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.