The points of issue
First UK edition, Picador (London) 1996. Copyright page reads 'First published 1996 by Picador' with the full staggered number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 (the presence of the 1 marks the first printing). Dust jacket priced 15.99 pounds. The UK Picador hardcover (January 1996) precedes the US Knopf edition (April 1996). 1996 Booker Prize winner.
Is this the true first?
UK Picador 1996 is the true first; the US Knopf edition is a later first-thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note. Confirm the Picador imprint and the number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 versus the US Knopf printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Last Orders a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, Picador (London) 1996. Copyright page reads 'First published 1996 by Picador' with the full staggered number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 (the presence of the 1 marks the first printing). Dust jacket priced 15.99 pounds. The UK Picador hardcover (January 1996) precedes the US Knopf edition (April 1996). 1996 Booker Prize winner.
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 Picador 1996 is the true first; the US Knopf edition is a later first-thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition of note. Confirm the Picador imprint and the number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 versus the US Knopf printing.
I have a first edition of Last Orders — 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.