The points of issue
Faber & Faber London 1986. First printing with number line ending in '1' on the copyright page; dust jacket priced. UK first precedes US Putnam 1986.
Is this the true first?
Faber London 1986 is the true first; G.P. Putnam's Sons New York 1986 is the first US.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions shown by number line; US edition distinguished by imprint. Ishiguro's debut 'A Pale View of Hills' (Faber 1982) is scarcer still.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of An Artist of the Floating World a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Faber & Faber London 1986. First printing with number line ending in '1' on the copyright page; dust jacket priced. UK first precedes US Putnam 1986.
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. Faber London 1986 is the true first; G.P. Putnam's Sons New York 1986 is the first US.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions shown by number line; US edition distinguished by imprint. Ishiguro's debut 'A Pale View of Hills' (Faber 1982) is scarcer still.
I have a first edition of An Artist of the Floating World — 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.