# Is "The Guns of Avalon" by Roger Zelazny a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny (Doubleday, 1972) is identified by: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page, with no Doubleday gutter code present on the last text page; on later printings the statement is dropped and a gutter code (such as N41) appears on the final page. US Doubleday first hardcover, Garden City, 1972.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- "First Edition" stated on the copyright page, with no Doubleday gutter code present on the last text page; on later printings the statement is dropped and a gutter code (such as N41) appears on the final page
- The pictorial dust jacket bears cover art by Emanuel Schongut, carries the printed price on the front flap, and reproduces a photograph of Zelazny by Judy Zelazny on the rear panel
- Second Amber novel
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Roger Zelazny |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 1972 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | "First Edition" stated on the copyright page, with no Doubleday gutter code present on the last text page; on later printings the statement… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page, with no Doubleday gutter code present on the last text page; on later printings the statement is dropped and a gutter code (such as N41) appears on the final page. The pictorial dust jacket bears cover art by Emanuel Schongut, carries the printed price on the front flap, and reproduces a photograph of Zelazny by Judy Zelazny on the rear panel. Second Amber novel.

## Is this the true first?
US Doubleday first hardcover, Garden City, 1972.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions omit the "First Edition" statement, carry a gutter code on the last text page, show the blind stamp to the rear board, and come in an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Guns of Avalon* by Roger Zelazny a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-guns-of-avalon
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.