# Is "Valentine Pontifex" by Robert Silverberg a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Valentine Pontifex by Robert Silverberg (Arbor House, 1983) is identified by: US Arbor House first edition, 1983, with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and the original printed price on the jacket front flap. US Arbor House hardcover is the first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Arbor House first edition, 1983, with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and the original printed price on the jacket front flap
- Quarter cloth over paper boards
- Third Majipoor book
- Publisher imprint reads Arbor House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert Silverberg |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Arbor House first edition, 1983, with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and the original printed price on the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Arbor House first edition, 1983, with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and the original printed price on the jacket front flap. Quarter cloth over paper boards. Third Majipoor book.

## Is this the true first?
US Arbor House hardcover is the first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions are identified by 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap and no printed price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Valentine Pontifex* by Robert Silverberg a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/valentine-pontifex
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.