The points of issue
First edition; paperback original bound in paper wrappers; priced. Acker's only essay collection (ISBN 1852424257). Pieces grouped under headings such as art and artists, the city, and bodies of work.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1997 Serpent's Tail (London) paperback original. A later edition adds an afterword by C. Carr.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Issued only in wrappers; no hardcover or book-club state. Some databases misdate it 1996; the published wrappers edition is 1997.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bodies of Work: Essays a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition; paperback original bound in paper wrappers; priced. Acker's only essay collection (ISBN 1852424257). Pieces grouped under headings such as art and artists, the city, and bodies of work.
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. True first is the 1997 Serpent's Tail (London) paperback original. A later edition adds an afterword by C. Carr.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Issued only in wrappers; no hardcover or book-club state. Some databases misdate it 1996; the published wrappers edition is 1997.
I have a first edition of Bodies of Work: Essays — 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.