The points of issue
Swift's first story collection, issued in a hardcover binding of apple-green cloth with gilt spine lettering, 146 pages; copyright page reads 'First published 1982'; original dust jacket. The print run was small (about 750 copies), which accounts for its scarcity.
Is this the true first?
UK London Magazine Editions (1982) precedes the US Poseidon Press edition of 1985; the London Magazine Editions hardcover is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; genuinely scarce, especially in jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Learning to Swim and Other Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Swift's first story collection, issued in a hardcover binding of apple-green cloth with gilt spine lettering, 146 pages; copyright page reads 'First published 1982'; original dust jacket. The print run was small (about 750 copies), which accounts for its scarcity.
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 London Magazine Editions (1982) precedes the US Poseidon Press edition of 1985; the London Magazine Editions hardcover is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; genuinely scarce, especially in jacket.
I have a first edition of Learning to Swim and Other Stories — 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.