The points of issue
First UK edition, André Deutsch, London, 1987. 'First published 1987' on the verso of the title page with no later impression noted. Publisher's blue cloth boards in dust jacket priced £9.95 on the front flap; jacket artwork by Jenny Tylden-Wright. Won the 1987 Booker Prize.
Is this the true first?
The UK André Deutsch edition is the true first; the US edition (Grove Press) appeared in 1988.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Grove US edition is later and US-priced. No prominent book-club edition affects the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Moon Tiger a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, André Deutsch, London, 1987. 'First published 1987' on the verso of the title page with no later impression noted. Publisher's blue cloth boards in dust jacket priced £9.95 on the front flap; jacket artwork by Jenny Tylden-Wright. Won the 1987 Booker Prize.
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 André Deutsch edition is the true first; the US edition (Grove Press) appeared in 1988.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Grove US edition is later and US-priced. No prominent book-club edition affects the true first.
I have a first edition of Moon Tiger — 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.