# Is "Earthly Powers" by Anthony Burgess a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess (Hutchinson, 1980) is identified by: True first is Hutchinson (London), 1980, stating 'First published 1980'; cloth boards, dust jacket priced in sterling (an unclipped example is preferred). UK Hutchinson 1980 is the true first; the US Simon & Schuster (New York) 1980 edition is a first-thus.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- True first is Hutchinson (London), 1980, stating 'First published 1980'; cloth boards, dust jacket priced in sterling (an unclipped example is preferred)
- The UK Hutchinson edition precedes the US Simon & Schuster (New York) 1980 edition
- Publisher imprint reads Hutchinson
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Anthony Burgess |
| Publisher | Hutchinson |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | True first is Hutchinson (London), 1980, stating 'First published 1980'; cloth boards, dust jacket priced in sterling (an unclipped example… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
True first is Hutchinson (London), 1980, stating 'First published 1980'; cloth boards, dust jacket priced in sterling (an unclipped example is preferred). The UK Hutchinson edition precedes the US Simon & Schuster (New York) 1980 edition.

## Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson 1980 is the true first; the US Simon & Schuster (New York) 1980 edition is a first-thus. Booker-shortlisted; widely regarded as Burgess's magnum opus.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition of note. Confirm the Hutchinson (London) imprint and 'First published 1980' statement versus the US Simon & Schuster printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Earthly Powers* by Anthony Burgess a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/earthly-powers
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.