The points of issue
First printing is identified by First printing stated on the copyright page with no later printings listed. Delacorte of this era used a stated First printing line rather than a number row.
Is this the true first?
US Delacorte edition is the true first. The UK first followed from Weidenfeld and Nicolson, also 1973.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club printings are common and lack the First printing statement; they are typically identified by a blind-stamped mark on the rear board and a price-clipped or unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Evening in Byzantium a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing is identified by First printing stated on the copyright page with no later printings listed. Delacorte of this era used a stated First printing line rather than a number row.
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. US Delacorte edition is the true first. The UK first followed from Weidenfeld and Nicolson, also 1973.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club printings are common and lack the First printing statement; they are typically identified by a blind-stamped mark on the rear board and a price-clipped or unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Evening in Byzantium — 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.