The points of issue
First English edition, Sandstone Press, June 2018, translating the Arabic 'Sayyidat al-Qamar'. Number line to 1; original wrappers. A first-printing point: the true first printing has no Man Booker International logo on the front cover (later printings add prize references). Winner of the 2019 Man Booker International Prize — the first Arabic-language work to win.
Is this the true first?
The Arabic original (Dar al-Adab, Beirut, 2010) is the true first of the work. The Sandstone Press 2018 is the true first in English and the prize-winning edition; the US edition (Catapult, 2019) and Canadian edition (House of Anansi, 2019) followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Catapult US (2019) and House of Anansi Canada (2019) editions are distinguished by imprint and date; the Sandstone first is told by the number line to 1 and the absence of a prize logo on the cover. No book-club edition noted.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Celestial Bodies a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English edition, Sandstone Press, June 2018, translating the Arabic 'Sayyidat al-Qamar'. Number line to 1; original wrappers. A first-printing point: the true first printing has no Man Booker International logo on the front cover (later printings add prize references). Winner of the 2019 Man Booker International Prize — the first Arabic-language work to win.
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. The Arabic original (Dar al-Adab, Beirut, 2010) is the true first of the work. The Sandstone Press 2018 is the true first in English and the prize-winning edition; the US edition (Catapult, 2019) and Canadian edition (House of Anansi, 2019) followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Catapult US (2019) and House of Anansi Canada (2019) editions are distinguished by imprint and date; the Sandstone first is told by the number line to 1 and the absence of a prize logo on the cover. No book-club edition noted.
I have a first edition of Celestial Bodies — 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.