The points of issue
First UK edition, Jonathan Cape, London, 1984. States First published 1984 on the verso with no later impression noted. Original boards; the unclipped first-state dust jacket is priced at seven pounds ninety-five pence. 1984 Booker Prize winner. The US Pantheon edition followed in 1985.
Is this the true first?
The UK Cape edition is the true first; the US Pantheon edition followed in 1985.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Pantheon US edition is later and US-priced. No prominent club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Hotel du Lac a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, Jonathan Cape, London, 1984. States First published 1984 on the verso with no later impression noted. Original boards; the unclipped first-state dust jacket is priced at seven pounds ninety-five pence. 1984 Booker Prize winner. The US Pantheon edition followed in 1985.
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 Cape edition is the true first; the US Pantheon edition followed in 1985.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Pantheon US edition is later and US-priced. No prominent club edition.
I have a first edition of Hotel du Lac — 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.