The points of issue
The first U.S. issue from Fawcett Columbine is a trade paperback, not a standard hardcover, so a softcover priced on the rear cover is the ordinary first U.S. printing; a scarce Fawcett Columbine hardcover issue also exists. The U.K. New English Library hardcover is the first hardcover appearance, with the price printed on the jacket flap. Both were illustrated by Richard M. Powers.
Is this the true first?
The first hardcover is the U.K. New English Library edition of 1980. A New English Library paperback was issued at about the same time and is reported to slightly precede the NEL hardcover, so it, not the hardcover, is the earliest appearance in book form. The U.K. and U.S. texts differ somewhat.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
U.S. book club hardcovers lack the printed jacket price and are typically identified by a blind stamp on the rear board; they are distinct from the scarce true Fawcett Columbine hardcover issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Number of the Beast a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first U.S. issue from Fawcett Columbine is a trade paperback, not a standard hardcover, so a softcover priced on the rear cover is the ordinary first U.S. printing; a scarce Fawcett Columbine hardcover issue also exists. The U.K. New English Library hardcover is the first hardcover appearance, with the price printed on the jacket flap. Both were illustrated by Richard M. Powers.
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. The first hardcover is the U.K. New English Library edition of 1980. A New English Library paperback was issued at about the same time and is reported to slightly precede the NEL hardcover, so it, not the hardcover, is the earliest appearance in book form. The U.K. and U.S. texts differ somewhat.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
U.S. book club hardcovers lack the printed jacket price and are typically identified by a blind stamp on the rear board; they are distinct from the scarce true Fawcett Columbine hardcover issue.
I have a first edition of The Number of the Beast — 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.