The points of issue
First edition, London: Chatto & Windus / The Hogarth Press, 1984, copyright page stating 'First published 1984'; in publisher's boards with dust jacket. Joint winner of the 1984 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus / Hogarth Press (1984) is the true first; the US Viking edition followed in 1985, so the UK precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Nights at the Circus a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, London: Chatto & Windus / The Hogarth Press, 1984, copyright page stating 'First published 1984'; in publisher's boards with dust jacket. Joint winner of the 1984 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.
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 Chatto & Windus / Hogarth Press (1984) is the true first; the US Viking edition followed in 1985, so the UK precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition.
I have a first edition of Nights at the Circus — 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.