The points of issue
Kincaid's first book, a story collection. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 1983. The true first carries the stated 'First Printing 1983' on the copyright page (verso of the title page); orange paper-covered boards quarter-bound in green cloth, with the original price-intact dust jacket. The stories first appeared in The New Yorker.
Is this the true first?
US FSG 1983 is the true first; a UK Picador/Pan edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition is a separate printing lacking the 'First Printing 1983' statement, often blind-stamped with no price on the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of At the Bottom of the River a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Kincaid's first book, a story collection. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 1983. The true first carries the stated 'First Printing 1983' on the copyright page (verso of the title page); orange paper-covered boards quarter-bound in green cloth, with the original price-intact dust jacket. The stories first appeared in The New Yorker.
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 1983 is the true first; a UK Picador/Pan edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition is a separate printing lacking the 'First Printing 1983' statement, often blind-stamped with no price on the jacket.
I have a first edition of At the Bottom of the River — 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.