The points of issue
The US Bantam printing carries a full number line on the copyright page; the UK Gollancz printing states First published 1990 with no later-printing markers. Both have the price present on the jacket.
Is this the true first?
Both the UK Victor Gollancz hardcover and the US Bantam Spectra hardcover appeared in 1990; precedence between them is not firmly established, so the Gollancz UK edition is commonly treated as the true first for this British author.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book club edition is identifiable by a 'Book Club Edition' notation and a jacket with no printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Ghost from the Grand Banks a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The US Bantam printing carries a full number line on the copyright page; the UK Gollancz printing states First published 1990 with no later-printing markers. Both have the price present on the jacket.
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. Both the UK Victor Gollancz hardcover and the US Bantam Spectra hardcover appeared in 1990; precedence between them is not firmly established, so the Gollancz UK edition is commonly treated as the true first for this British author.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book club edition is identifiable by a 'Book Club Edition' notation and a jacket with no printed price.
I have a first edition of The Ghost from the Grand Banks — 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.