The points of issue
UK Duckworth (London) cloth, gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket retains its original net price; copyright page carries no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
UK Duckworth (London) 1973 is the true first edition; the US Doubleday edition followed in 1974. The later revised and expanded editions are 'first thus,' not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Doubleday and subsequent Vintage/Picador printings are reprints; precedence belongs to the 1973 Duckworth edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Awakenings a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Duckworth (London) cloth, gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket retains its original net price; copyright page carries no later-printing statement.
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. UK Duckworth (London) 1973 is the true first edition; the US Doubleday edition followed in 1974. The later revised and expanded editions are 'first thus,' not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US Doubleday and subsequent Vintage/Picador printings are reprints; precedence belongs to the 1973 Duckworth edition.
I have a first edition of Awakenings — 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.