The points of issue
True first is the Putnam trade hardcover with the printed jacket price present and a full number line reading 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 on the copyright page (the numeral 1 present marks the first printing). Green cloth boards with King's embossed signature; two simultaneous jacket states exist with the author's name in red or in gold, neither having precedence.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam, released 10 November 1987, is the true first. UK Hodder & Stoughton also published in 1987 but later than the US edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition has no price on the front jacket flap and a small blind-stamp on the rear board; boards and overall production are lighter.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Tommyknockers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the Putnam trade hardcover with the printed jacket price present and a full number line reading 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 on the copyright page (the numeral 1 present marks the first printing). Green cloth boards with King's embossed signature; two simultaneous jacket states exist with the author's name in red or in gold, neither having precedence.
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 Putnam, released 10 November 1987, is the true first. UK Hodder & Stoughton also published in 1987 but later than the US edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition has no price on the front jacket flap and a small blind-stamp on the rear board; boards and overall production are lighter.
I have a first edition of The Tommyknockers — 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.