The points of issue
First printing; short novel, Powell's first fiction after concluding A Dance to the Music of Time. Dust jacket illustrated by Barbara Ker-Seymer; 144 pages.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first (London, 1983); US Holt issued 1983.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of O, How the Wheel Becomes It! a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing; short novel, Powell's first fiction after concluding A Dance to the Music of Time. Dust jacket illustrated by Barbara Ker-Seymer; 144 pages.
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 Heinemann is the true first (London, 1983); US Holt issued 1983.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of O, How the Wheel Becomes It! — 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.