The points of issue
First UK edition, William Collins, London, 1979. 'First published 1979' stated on the copyright page. Original cloth in pictorial dust jacket; a genuinely slim novel, and firsts in fine jacketed state are scarce. Winner of the 1979 Booker Prize.
Is this the true first?
The William Collins UK edition is the true first. The first US edition (Henry Holt) did not appear until 1987, well after the UK first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The much later US Henry Holt edition (1987) carries a US imprint. No prominent book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Offshore a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, William Collins, London, 1979. 'First published 1979' stated on the copyright page. Original cloth in pictorial dust jacket; a genuinely slim novel, and firsts in fine jacketed state are scarce. Winner of the 1979 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 William Collins UK edition is the true first. The first US edition (Henry Holt) did not appear until 1987, well after the UK first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The much later US Henry Holt edition (1987) carries a US imprint. No prominent book-club edition.
I have a first edition of Offshore — 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.