The points of issue
UK Faber & Faber first edition, 1986, in first-issue priced dust jacket. A first impression has no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Seventh Adam Dalgliesh novel.
Is this the true first?
UK Faber & Faber (1986) is the true first; the US Knopf edition, published 12 October 1986, follows. Often cited as a high point of the Dalgliesh series.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies carry a blind-stamped impression mark on the rear board and lack a flap price; later Faber impressions state the impression number on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Taste for Death a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Faber & Faber first edition, 1986, in first-issue priced dust jacket. A first impression has no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Seventh Adam Dalgliesh novel.
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 Faber & Faber (1986) is the true first; the US Knopf edition, published 12 October 1986, follows. Often cited as a high point of the Dalgliesh series.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies carry a blind-stamped impression mark on the rear board and lack a flap price; later Faber impressions state the impression number on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of A Taste for Death — 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.