The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels

A book-club edition was issued and is the commonest trap. Tells: gold/gilt spine lettering in place of the trade hardcover's yellow; a blind stamp (small embossed square) on the rear board; no price at the front jacket flap; and in some copies a 'Book Club Edition' or 'First Book Club Edition' designation on the flap. Book-club copies are also lighter and printed on thinner bulk. A price-clipped trade jacket can imitate the absent-price tell, so check the spine lettering and rear-board blind stamp before accepting a clipped copy as a trade first. The Plume trade paperback, though a first-printing state, is not the hardcover and should never be catalogued as one.