The points of issue
US Simon & Schuster hardcover first. First printing identified by the complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, in an unclipped jacket designed by Paul Bacon. Quarter red cloth over speckled cream boards with red endpapers. Rice's second book and her first non-vampire historical novel.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster (1979) is the true first. It is less common than the vampire titles.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition lacks the printed jacket price and is typically a lighter, smaller-format printing; rely on the number line ending in 1 and the priced jacket to identify the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Feast of All Saints a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Simon & Schuster hardcover first. First printing identified by the complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, in an unclipped jacket designed by Paul Bacon. Quarter red cloth over speckled cream boards with red endpapers. Rice's second book and her first non-vampire historical novel.
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. US Simon & Schuster (1979) is the true first. It is less common than the vampire titles.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition lacks the printed jacket price and is typically a lighter, smaller-format printing; rely on the number line ending in 1 and the priced jacket to identify the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Feast of All Saints — 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.