The points of issue
Jonathan Cape London 1984. First printing with no later-impression statement; dust jacket priced £8.95. Publisher's boards.
Is this the true first?
Jonathan Cape London 1984 is the true first; Viking New York 1985 is the first US.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions stated on verso; US edition dated 1985 with Viking imprint. Book club editions lack the priced Cape jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Money: A Suicide Note a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Jonathan Cape London 1984. First printing with no later-impression statement; dust jacket priced £8.95. Publisher's boards.
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. Jonathan Cape London 1984 is the true first; Viking New York 1985 is the first US.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions stated on verso; US edition dated 1985 with Viking imprint. Book club editions lack the priced Cape jacket.
I have a first edition of Money: A Suicide Note — 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.