The points of issue
Knopf (Borzoi) first issue, identified by "First Edition" (stated as a first trade edition) on the copyright page with no later-printing line, and the original price-printed dust jacket. Knopf did not yet use a number line in 1980.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf (1980) is the true first edition; the UK edition followed in 1981.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the printed jacket price and usually show a small blind-stamp on the lower rear board. Knopf's Borzoi device on the boards is a normal feature of the trade edition, not a book-club mark.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Congo a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf (Borzoi) first issue, identified by "First Edition" (stated as a first trade edition) on the copyright page with no later-printing line, and the original price-printed dust jacket. Knopf did not yet use a number line in 1980.
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. US Knopf (1980) is the true first edition; the UK edition followed in 1981.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the printed jacket price and usually show a small blind-stamp on the lower rear board. Knopf's Borzoi device on the boards is a normal feature of the trade edition, not a book-club mark.
I have a first edition of Congo — 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.