The points of issue
Putnam hardcover first, in cloth-backed boards. This early title carries no statement of printing on the copyright page (the absence of a later-printing statement, with the priced jacket, identifies the first); it does not carry a 1-to-10 number line. A scarce early own-name Koontz hardcover.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam (1977) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Putnam book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and carries a blind-stamped dot to the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Vision a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Putnam hardcover first, in cloth-backed boards. This early title carries no statement of printing on the copyright page (the absence of a later-printing statement, with the priced jacket, identifies the first); it does not carry a 1-to-10 number line. A scarce early own-name Koontz hardcover.
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 (1977) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Putnam book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and carries a blind-stamped dot to the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Vision — 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.