The points of issue
First UK edition, Secker & Warburg, London, 1994. 'First published 1994' on the verso of the title page. Original boards in pictorial dust jacket priced £14.99 on the front flap; jacket designed by Colum Leith. Won the 1994 Booker Prize (a controversial decision).
Is this the true first?
The UK Secker & Warburg edition is the true first; the US edition (W. W. Norton) appeared in 1995.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Norton US edition is later and US-priced (jacket price the printed price). No prominent book-club edition affects the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of How Late It Was, How Late a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, Secker & Warburg, London, 1994. 'First published 1994' on the verso of the title page. Original boards in pictorial dust jacket priced £14.99 on the front flap; jacket designed by Colum Leith. Won the 1994 Booker Prize (a controversial decision).
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 Secker & Warburg edition is the true first; the US edition (W. W. Norton) appeared in 1995.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Norton US edition is later and US-priced (jacket price the printed price). No prominent book-club edition affects the true first.
I have a first edition of How Late It Was, How Late — 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.