The points of issue
First book of the Art trilogy. The UK Collins hardcover (ISBN 0-00-223453-X) and the US Harper & Row hardcover (ISBN 0-06-016276-7) both appeared in 1989 with priced jackets. Confirm the imprint and the original (unclipped) jacket price against the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
Both the UK Collins and the US Harper & Row editions are dated 1989 and are commonly treated as effectively simultaneous; the original record's confident assertion that the UK clearly precedes is not well supported, so collectors should treat either national first as a true first of its market rather than assuming UK priority.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions and later printings lack the original priced jacket; verify the unclipped jacket price and absence of a later-printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Great and Secret Show a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First book of the Art trilogy. The UK Collins hardcover (ISBN 0-00-223453-X) and the US Harper & Row hardcover (ISBN 0-06-016276-7) both appeared in 1989 with priced jackets. Confirm the imprint and the original (unclipped) jacket price against the copyright page.
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 Collins and the US Harper & Row editions are dated 1989 and are commonly treated as effectively simultaneous; the original record's confident assertion that the UK clearly precedes is not well supported, so collectors should treat either national first as a true first of its market rathe
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions and later printings lack the original priced jacket; verify the unclipped jacket price and absence of a later-printing statement.
I have a first edition of The Great and Secret Show — 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.