Skip to main content

First-Edition Identification · Iain Banks

Is My Walking on Glass a First Edition?

Macmillan, 1985

The points of issue

Macmillan London hardcover; copyright page states 'First published 1985 by Macmillan London Limited' with no later printings listed; priced, unclipped jacket. The author's second book.

Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder · Macmillan first-edition guide.

Is this the true first?

UK Macmillan hardcover (1985) is the true first.

Telling it from reprints & book-club editions

None notable.

Frequently asked questions

Is my copy of Walking on Glass a first edition?

Look for these first-edition points: Macmillan London hardcover; copyright page states 'First published 1985 by Macmillan London Limited' with no later printings listed; priced, unclipped jacket. The author's second book.

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. UK Macmillan hardcover (1985) is the true first.

Is the book-club edition the same as the first?

None notable.

I have a first edition of Walking on Glass — 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.

Keep identifying