The points of issue
First UK edition published 1973 by Jonathan Cape, in boards with the first-issue dust jacket designed by Bill Botten. This is the true first.
Is this the true first?
The Cape 1973 UK edition is the true first. The Farrar, Straus and Giroux US edition also appeared in 1973; UK precedence is the standard cataloguing position. Distinguish the US issue by its FSG imprint and American jacket price.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition for the first issue; later film-tie-in editions are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Crash a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition published 1973 by Jonathan Cape, in boards with the first-issue dust jacket designed by Bill Botten. This is the true first.
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 Cape 1973 UK edition is the true first. The Farrar, Straus and Giroux US edition also appeared in 1973; UK precedence is the standard cataloguing position. Distinguish the US issue by its FSG imprint and American jacket price.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club edition for the first issue; later film-tie-in editions are reprints.
I have a first edition of Crash — 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.