# Is "Espedair Street" by Iain Banks a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Espedair Street by Iain Banks (Macmillan, 1987) is identified by: Macmillan London hardcover, published 24 September 1987; the copyright page states 'First published 1987 by Macmillan London Limited' with no later printings noted. The UK Macmillan hardcover (24 September 1987) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Macmillan London hardcover, published 24 September 1987; the copyright page states 'First published 1987 by Macmillan London Limited' with no later printings noted
- Dark blue cloth boards with gilt spine lettering, 249 pages, in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price on the flap (unclipped)
- ISBN 0333449169
- Publisher imprint reads Macmillan
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Iain Banks |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
| Year | 1987 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Macmillan London hardcover, published 24 September 1987; the copyright page states 'First published 1987 by Macmillan London Limited' with… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Macmillan London hardcover, published 24 September 1987; the copyright page states 'First published 1987 by Macmillan London Limited' with no later printings noted. Dark blue cloth boards with gilt spine lettering, 249 pages, in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price on the flap (unclipped). ISBN 0333449169.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Macmillan hardcover (24 September 1987) is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Espedair Street* by Iain Banks a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/espedair-street
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.