The points of issue
First published in Great Britain in 1984 by Victor Gollancz; priced dust jacket. A recognized first-issue point is the jacket's rear panel carrying only two review quotes (later issues add more). Booker-shortlisted; won the Guardian Fiction Prize.
Is this the true first?
The UK Gollancz edition (1984) is the true first. The US Simon & Schuster edition appeared the same year and is the first American edition; the UK edition is conventionally regarded as preceding it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Film tie-in paperbacks (1987) are later reprints, not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Empire of the Sun a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First published in Great Britain in 1984 by Victor Gollancz; priced dust jacket. A recognized first-issue point is the jacket's rear panel carrying only two review quotes (later issues add more). Booker-shortlisted; won the Guardian Fiction Prize.
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 UK Gollancz edition (1984) is the true first. The US Simon & Schuster edition appeared the same year and is the first American edition; the UK edition is conventionally regarded as preceding it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Film tie-in paperbacks (1987) are later reprints, not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Empire of the Sun — 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.