The points of issue
Kincaid's first novel. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 1985. The true first has the stated 'First printing' on the copyright page (verso of the title page) with no additional printings indicated, and the original unclipped dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US FSG 1985 is the true first; a UK Picador edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition is a separate printing lacking the stated first-printing line, often blind-stamped with no price on the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Annie John a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Kincaid's first novel. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 1985. The true first has the stated 'First printing' on the copyright page (verso of the title page) with no additional printings indicated, and the original unclipped dust jacket.
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. US FSG 1985 is the true first; a UK Picador edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition is a separate printing lacking the stated first-printing line, often blind-stamped with no price on the jacket.
I have a first edition of Annie John — 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.