The points of issue
Larkin's last full collection. UK Faber first edition, first impression, published 3 June 1974 in an edition of about 6,142 copies. Demy octavo, 42 pages, bound in pale grey cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with a glossy white dust jacket printed in grey (UK price 1.40 on the flap). The copyright page reads 'first published in 1974'; first impressions carry no later-printing line.
Is this the true first?
UK Faber (1974) is the true first; the US Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition (1974) is the first American.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later impressions add a reprint line on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of High Windows a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Larkin's last full collection. UK Faber first edition, first impression, published 3 June 1974 in an edition of about 6,142 copies. Demy octavo, 42 pages, bound in pale grey cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with a glossy white dust jacket printed in grey (UK price 1.40 on the flap). The copyright page reads 'first published in 1974'; first impressions carry no later-printing line.
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. UK Faber (1974) is the true first; the US Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition (1974) is the first American.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Later impressions add a reprint line on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of High Windows — 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.