The points of issue
First edition, Jonathan Cape, London, 1979. Cloth in dust jacket; no printing statement on the true first. Banned in South Africa on publication. Preceded the US Viking 1979 edition.
Is this the true first?
Jonathan Cape, London, 1979 is the true first edition; the US Viking 1979 follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Viking US and later Penguin paperbacks are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Burger's Daughter a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, Jonathan Cape, London, 1979. Cloth in dust jacket; no printing statement on the true first. Banned in South Africa on publication. Preceded the US Viking 1979 edition.
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. Jonathan Cape, London, 1979 is the true first edition; the US Viking 1979 follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Viking US and later Penguin paperbacks are reprints.
I have a first edition of Burger's Daughter — 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.