The points of issue
True first is the Putnam hardcover with the printed jacket price present and no statement of a later printing on the copyright page; in this period Putnam typically indicated the first by the word First Edition or by date correspondence rather than a number line, which Putnam did not adopt until about 1985. One of Koontz's scarcer early hardcovers under his own name.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam, 1980, is the true first. UK Collins published in 1981.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition lacks the jacket price and carries the small blind-stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Whispers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the Putnam hardcover with the printed jacket price present and no statement of a later printing on the copyright page; in this period Putnam typically indicated the first by the word First Edition or by date correspondence rather than a number line, which Putnam did not adopt until about 1985. One of Koontz's scarcer early hardcovers under his own name.
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 Putnam, 1980, is the true first. UK Collins published in 1981.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition lacks the jacket price and carries the small blind-stamp on the rear board.
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.