The points of issue
First printing. The UK Hutchinson 1986 edition is the accepted first edition; dealers describe it as first edition, first printing. A US Arbor House edition also appeared in 1986; the exact month-level order of the two 1986 issues is not firmly documented, so the Hutchinson UK printing is treated as the collector's first.
Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson 1986 is the accepted true first; US Arbor House also 1986. Both appeared the same year and a definitive month-by-month precedence is not established in the sources, but the UK Hutchinson is the conventional first for this British author.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Pianoplayers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing. The UK Hutchinson 1986 edition is the accepted first edition; dealers describe it as first edition, first printing. A US Arbor House edition also appeared in 1986; the exact month-level order of the two 1986 issues is not firmly documented, so the Hutchinson UK printing is treated as the collector's first.
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. UK Hutchinson 1986 is the accepted true first; US Arbor House also 1986. Both appeared the same year and a definitive month-by-month precedence is not established in the sources, but the UK Hutchinson is the conventional first for this British author.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of The Pianoplayers — 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.