The points of issue
Little, Brown and Company, New York, January 2007. First printing has a number line ending in 1. Black quarter cloth over gray boards with map endpapers showing the Franklin Expedition route. Arctic horror epic.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown edition is the true first; the UK Bantam Press edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the number line and jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Terror a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Little, Brown and Company, New York, January 2007. First printing has a number line ending in 1. Black quarter cloth over gray boards with map endpapers showing the Franklin Expedition route. Arctic horror epic.
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 Little, Brown edition is the true first; the UK Bantam Press edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the number line and jacket price.
I have a first edition of The Terror — 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.