The points of issue
US G. P. Putnam's Sons hardcover, 1980. The first printing is identified by no statement of printing on the copyright page (Putnam did not print a 'First Edition' line for this title); the absence of any printing statement is the point. First printing was about 7,000 copies. The dust jacket is priced 12.95 dollars.
Is this the true first?
The US Putnam edition is the true first, Koontz's breakout title. The UK W. H. Allen edition is the UK first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the printed 12.95-dollar jacket price, are smaller and lighter, and carry a blind-stamp on the rear board. The same Putnam imprint can mislead, so confirm by the priced jacket and the absence of a printing statement on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Whispers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US G. P. Putnam's Sons hardcover, 1980. The first printing is identified by no statement of printing on the copyright page (Putnam did not print a 'First Edition' line for this title); the absence of any printing statement is the point. First printing was about 7,000 copies. The dust jacket is priced 12.95 dollars.
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 US Putnam edition is the true first, Koontz's breakout title. The UK W. H. Allen edition is the UK first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the printed 12.95-dollar jacket price, are smaller and lighter, and carry a blind-stamp on the rear board. The same Putnam imprint can mislead, so confirm by the priced jacket and the absence of a printing statement on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Whispers — 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.