The points of issue
First edition, first impression in publisher's cloth with unclipped dust jacket. Volume 3 (the central volume) of The Avignon Quintet; Booker Prize shortlist 1982.
Is this the true first?
UK Faber & Faber is the true first. A US edition followed from The Viking Press in 1982.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Constance, or Solitary Practices a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first impression in publisher's cloth with unclipped dust jacket. Volume 3 (the central volume) of The Avignon Quintet; Booker Prize shortlist 1982.
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 Faber & Faber is the true first. A US edition followed from The Viking Press in 1982.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted.
I have a first edition of Constance, or Solitary Practices — 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.