The points of issue
First printing, combining an Orwell critique with a novella. The London Hutchinson edition of 1978, in blue cloth boards stamped in silver, runs to roughly 240 pages and precedes the American Little, Brown edition of 1978.
Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson 1978 is the true first; the US Little, Brown edition followed in 1978.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue identified.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of 1985 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, combining an Orwell critique with a novella. The London Hutchinson edition of 1978, in blue cloth boards stamped in silver, runs to roughly 240 pages and precedes the American Little, Brown edition of 1978.
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 Hutchinson 1978 is the true first; the US Little, Brown edition followed in 1978.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue identified.
I have a first edition of 1985 — 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.