The points of issue
Signet paperback original, catalog number J8754. Copyright page states First Printing, July, 1979 with a full number line 1 through 9 (including 1). As by Richard Bachman.
Is this the true first?
Paperback original; no hardcover first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original); later printings note a higher printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Long Walk a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Signet paperback original, catalog number J8754. Copyright page states First Printing, July, 1979 with a full number line 1 through 9 (including 1). As by Richard Bachman.
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. Paperback original; no hardcover first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (paperback original); later printings note a higher printing.
I have a first edition of The Long Walk — 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.