The points of issue
St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press, 1988, first edition, first impression in original dust wrapper. 'First published 1988 by University of Queensland Press' on the verso. The Australian UQP edition precedes the UK Faber and US Harper & Row editions. 1988 Booker winner.
Is this the true first?
The Australian UQP edition has priority over the UK Faber and US Harper & Row editions and is the true first; many sellers list the Faber as 'first,' but UQP precedes it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Faber UK and Harper & Row US are distinguished by their imprints and their own 'first published' lines tied to their later publication. No prominent BCE.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Oscar and Lucinda a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press, 1988, first edition, first impression in original dust wrapper. 'First published 1988 by University of Queensland Press' on the verso. The Australian UQP edition precedes the UK Faber and US Harper & Row editions. 1988 Booker winner.
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 Australian UQP edition has priority over the UK Faber and US Harper & Row editions and is the true first; many sellers list the Faber as 'first,' but UQP precedes it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Faber UK and Harper & Row US are distinguished by their imprints and their own 'first published' lines tied to their later publication. No prominent BCE.
I have a first edition of Oscar and Lucinda — 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.