7 John Banville first editions are documented on this shelf, from Long Lankin (1970) to The Sea (2005) across 3 different publishers. Each linked guide gives the points of issue that separate a true first printing of that John Banville title from later printings and book-club copies — the publisher and year to expect, the number-line or edition-statement conventions, and the tells that show up in online listings.
Identification only, per the house rule: no prices and no appraisals here. Checking a John Banville copy in hand? Type the title into the First-Edition Checker or photograph the copyright page with Snap & Sort.
- Long Lankin — 1970 · Secker & WarburgUK first edition (Secker & Warburg, 1970) is Banville's debut book, a collection of stories plus the novella 'The Possessed.' Stated Secker & Warburg imprint with 1970 date; priced dust jacket. Very scarce. The original 1970 text differs from the revised 1984 reissue, which Banville reworked and from which he dropped several pieces. UK Secker & Warburg (1970) is the true first and the author's first book. The 1984 revised edition was issued by The Gallery Press (Dublin), not Secker, and is a 'first thus' of the revised text, not the true first. No notable book-club edition. The 1984 Gallery Press revision is a separate, substantially revised printing and should not be mistaken for the first.
- Birchwood — 1973 · Secker & WarburgUK first edition published by Secker & Warburg in 1973, with the Secker & Warburg imprint and 1973 date on the copyright page; priced dust jacket. Banville's first novel (following his 1970 story collection). Scarce in jacket. Both the UK Secker & Warburg and the US W. W. Norton editions are dated 1973. The UK edition is the conventionally accepted first; the Norton first American edition shows the figure 1 in its number line. No notable book-club edition.
- Doctor Copernicus — 1976 · Secker & WarburgUK first edition published by Secker & Warburg in 1976, with the Secker & Warburg imprint and 1976 date stated on the copyright page; priced dust jacket. Won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. First book of the science/'Revolutions' sequence. Both the UK Secker & Warburg and the US W. W. Norton editions are dated 1976. The UK edition is the conventionally accepted first; the Norton first American edition is identified by the figure 1 in its number line. No notable book-club edition.
- Kepler — 1981 · Secker & WarburgUK first edition published by Martin Secker & Warburg in 1981, with the Secker & Warburg imprint and 1981 date on the copyright page; priced dust jacket. Won the 1981 Guardian Fiction Prize. Part of the science/'Revolutions' sequence. UK Secker & Warburg (1981) is the true first. The US edition (Godine, Boston) followed in 1983, so the UK clearly precedes. No notable book-club edition.
- The Newton Letter — 1982 · Secker & WarburgUK first edition states 'First published in England 1982 by Martin Secker & Warburg Limited' on the copyright page. Black boards stamped in gilt on the spine; priced dust jacket; about 82 pages. Third of Banville's science-themed sequence (after Doctor Copernicus and Kepler, followed by Mefisto). UK Secker & Warburg (1982) is the true first. The US edition (David R. Godine, Boston) did not appear until 1987, so the UK clearly precedes. No notable book-club edition.
- The Book of Evidence — 1989 · Secker & WarburgThe true first is Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd (London), 1989. Copyright page states 'First published in Great Britain in 1989' by Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd, London (ISBN 0436032678 / 9780436032677). Dark cloth boards with gilt spine titles; dust jacket priced 10.the printed price (an unclipped jacket retaining the price is preferred). The UK Secker edition precedes the US first edition, which is Charles…. UK Secker & Warburg 1989 is the true first. The US first edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York) also appeared in 1989, with the UK edition preceding it; it is not a 1990 publication. Booker-shortlisted; Guinness Peat Aviation Award winner. No book-club edition of note. Distinguish the true first by confirming the Secker & Warburg (London) imprint and the 'First published in Great Britain in 1989' statement, as opposed to the US Scribner printing.
- The Sea — 2005 · PicadorFirst UK edition, Picador (London) 2005. Copyright page reads 'First published 2005 by Picador' with the full staggered number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 (the presence of the 1 marks the first printing). Original boards in dust jacket priced 16.the printed price (ISBN 0330483285 / 9780330483285). 2005 Booker Prize winner. UK Picador 2005 is the true first; the US edition (Alfred A. Knopf, New York) 2005 followed and is a first-thus. No prominent book-club edition. The US Knopf printing is later and US-priced.
More Literary Fiction (US) & Award Winners shelves: John Barth, John Berryman, John Cheever, John Dos Passos, John Fante, John Gardner.
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