The points of issue
First edition published by Sun & Moon Press, Los Angeles, 1986; the third and final volume of the New York Trilogy (after City of Glass, 1985, and Ghosts, 1986). Look for the first-edition statement on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US Sun & Moon Press is the true first appearance in book form; it precedes the later collected one-volume New York Trilogy editions.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note; later collected one-volume trilogy editions are not the first appearance of this title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Locked Room a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published by Sun & Moon Press, Los Angeles, 1986; the third and final volume of the New York Trilogy (after City of Glass, 1985, and Ghosts, 1986). Look for the first-edition statement on 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. US Sun & Moon Press is the true first appearance in book form; it precedes the later collected one-volume New York Trilogy editions.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of note; later collected one-volume trilogy editions are not the first appearance of this title.
I have a first edition of The Locked Room — 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.