The points of issue
True first is the Philtrum Press limited (Bangor, fall 1984), illustrated by Kenneth R. Linkhauser: 1,250 oversize copies, all in a matching slipcase. Of these, 1,000 copies were for sale and numbered in black ink (1-1000), and 250 copies were reserved for private distribution and numbered in red ink (1-250). Sold only by mail.
Is this the true first?
The 1984 Philtrum limited precedes the 1987 Viking trade edition, which has slightly revised text and different illustrations by David Palladini. The Viking is the first trade edition, not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of the Philtrum exists; the common reprint is the 1987 Viking trade. The Philtrum is hand-numbered, oversized, and slipcased.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Eyes of the Dragon (Philtrum limited) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the Philtrum Press limited (Bangor, fall 1984), illustrated by Kenneth R. Linkhauser: 1,250 oversize copies, all in a matching slipcase. Of these, 1,000 copies were for sale and numbered in black ink (1-1000), and 250 copies were reserved for private distribution and numbered in red ink (1-250). Sold only by mail.
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 1984 Philtrum limited precedes the 1987 Viking trade edition, which has slightly revised text and different illustrations by David Palladini. The Viking is the first trade edition, not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of the Philtrum exists; the common reprint is the 1987 Viking trade. The Philtrum is hand-numbered, oversized, and slipcased.
I have a first edition of The Eyes of the Dragon (Philtrum limited) — 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.