The points of issue
Warner Books paperback original (ISBN 0-446-90518-6) with Warner first-printing statement on the copyright page. The Warner text was heavily cut, with roughly fifty pages removed; the restored full text appeared in 2008 from Cemetery Dance (hardcover) and Leisure (paperback).
Is this the true first?
The 1981 Warner paperback original is the true first; the 2008 restored and uncut edition is a first-thus, not the first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Woods Are Dark a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Warner Books paperback original (ISBN 0-446-90518-6) with Warner first-printing statement on the copyright page. The Warner text was heavily cut, with roughly fifty pages removed; the restored full text appeared in 2008 from Cemetery Dance (hardcover) and Leisure (paperback).
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 1981 Warner paperback original is the true first; the 2008 restored and uncut edition is a first-thus, not the first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (paperback original).
I have a first edition of The Woods Are Dark — 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.