The points of issue
First edition published 1975 by Atheneum (Margaret K. McElderry Books), New York, with illustrations by Michael Heslop; the fourth book in The Dark Is Rising sequence. The first printing states First Edition on the copyright page. Cloth binding; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price.
Is this the true first?
US true first edition (Atheneum, 1975), which appeared at essentially the same time as the UK Chatto & Windus edition; reported US release dates place the Atheneum printing at least as early as the UK one. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1976. Collectors track both the US and UK firsts.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Atheneum reprints drop the stated First Edition; book-club editions typically lack a printed jacket price. The UK Chatto & Windus 1975 edition is the separate true first for that market.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Grey King a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published 1975 by Atheneum (Margaret K. McElderry Books), New York, with illustrations by Michael Heslop; the fourth book in The Dark Is Rising sequence. The first printing states First Edition on the copyright page. Cloth binding; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price.
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 true first edition (Atheneum, 1975), which appeared at essentially the same time as the UK Chatto & Windus edition; reported US release dates place the Atheneum printing at least as early as the UK one. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1976. Collectors track both the US and UK firsts.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Atheneum reprints drop the stated First Edition; book-club editions typically lack a printed jacket price. The UK Chatto & Windus 1975 edition is the separate true first for that market.
I have a first edition of The Grey King — 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.