The points of issue
French original-language true first: 'Asterix le Gaulois,' Dargaud, 1961, hardcover album. First English-language edition: Brockhampton Press (London), 1969, hardcover in glazed pictorial boards, translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, ISBN 0-340-04240-0, printed in Great Britain by Thomas Nelson, Edinburgh. The English first is identified by the Brockhampton imprint and 1969 date.
Is this the true first?
The Dargaud French edition of 1961 is the original-language true first. The Brockhampton 1969 edition is the first in English ('first thus'). Later Hodder and Orion English editions are reprints. Note that the page 35 art was redrawn in 1970 after the original plate was lost, so early printings can differ slightly there.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The trap is later French Dargaud/Hachette printings and later UK Hodder reprints. Distinguish the French true first from the first English edition by imprint and date.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Asterix the Gaul (English first) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: French original-language true first: 'Asterix le Gaulois,' Dargaud, 1961, hardcover album. First English-language edition: Brockhampton Press (London), 1969, hardcover in glazed pictorial boards, translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, ISBN 0-340-04240-0, printed in Great Britain by Thomas Nelson, Edinburgh. The English first is identified by the Brockhampton imprint and 1969 date.
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. The Dargaud French edition of 1961 is the original-language true first. The Brockhampton 1969 edition is the first in English ('first thus'). Later Hodder and Orion English editions are reprints. Note that the page 35 art was redrawn in 1970 after the original plate was lost, so early printings can
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The trap is later French Dargaud/Hachette printings and later UK Hodder reprints. Distinguish the French true first from the first English edition by imprint and date.
I have a first edition of Asterix the Gaul (English first) — 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.