The points of issue
First UK edition, Secker & Warburg, London, 1993. 'First published 1993' on the verso of the title page with no later impression noted. Original boards in dust jacket priced £12.99 on the front flap (the jacket also carries a Canadian price of CN the printed price). Won the 1993 Booker Prize.
Is this the true first?
The UK Secker & Warburg edition is the true first; the US edition (Viking) followed in 1993.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Viking edition is later in sequence and US-priced (front-flap price the printed price). No prominent book-club edition affects the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, Secker & Warburg, London, 1993. 'First published 1993' on the verso of the title page with no later impression noted. Original boards in dust jacket priced £12.99 on the front flap (the jacket also carries a Canadian price of CN the printed price). Won the 1993 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 Secker & Warburg edition is the true first; the US edition (Viking) followed in 1993.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US Viking edition is later in sequence and US-priced (front-flap price the printed price). No prominent book-club edition affects the true first.
I have a first edition of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha — 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.