The points of issue
First edition, first printing from Arbor House with a number line on the copyright page and an unclipped, priced dust jacket. First Merlin novel and seventh Amber book. A parallel Underwood-Miller signed/limited edition was also issued.
Is this the true first?
US Arbor House trade hardcover is the true first edition; the Underwood-Miller signed/limited is a parallel collectible.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club hardcover exists, identified by a smaller, lighter binding, the absence of a jacket price, and a blind stamp on the rear board; not a true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Trumps of Doom a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing from Arbor House with a number line on the copyright page and an unclipped, priced dust jacket. First Merlin novel and seventh Amber book. A parallel Underwood-Miller signed/limited edition was also issued.
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 Arbor House trade hardcover is the true first edition; the Underwood-Miller signed/limited is a parallel collectible.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book club hardcover exists, identified by a smaller, lighter binding, the absence of a jacket price, and a blind stamp on the rear board; not a true first.
I have a first edition of Trumps of Doom — 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.