The points of issue
First edition, Rex Collings, London, 1981. Boards with dust jacket. Memoir of Soyinka's Yoruba childhood. The first US edition (Random House, New York) follows.
Is this the true first?
Rex Collings London 1981 is the true first edition. The first American edition (Random House, ISBN 0394528077) is cataloged by dealers variously as 1981 or 1982; in either case it follows the Rex Collings London first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Vintage/Aventura paperbacks are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ake: The Years of Childhood a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, Rex Collings, London, 1981. Boards with dust jacket. Memoir of Soyinka's Yoruba childhood. The first US edition (Random House, New York) follows.
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. Rex Collings London 1981 is the true first edition. The first American edition (Random House, ISBN 0394528077) is cataloged by dealers variously as 1981 or 1982; in either case it follows the Rex Collings London first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Vintage/Aventura paperbacks are reprints.
I have a first edition of Ake: The Years of Childhood — 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.