The points of issue
Copyright page states "First Edition," published 1998. Large octavo bound in black cloth stamped in copper-gilt with the author's initials to the front, fore-edges untrimmed; the dust jacket (design by Carol Devine Carson) carries the printed retail price. Morrison's first novel after the Nobel Prize.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf printing of 1998 is the true first edition. Signed copies exist (signed on the title page or via tipped-in bookplate from the tour), but a formal numbered Knopf signed limited edition is not reliably documented.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Paradise was a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection; the club edition lacks the stated First Edition and the printed jacket price and carries a blind stamp to the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Paradise a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states "First Edition," published 1998. Large octavo bound in black cloth stamped in copper-gilt with the author's initials to the front, fore-edges untrimmed; the dust jacket (design by Carol Devine Carson) carries the printed retail price. Morrison's first novel after the Nobel 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. US Knopf printing of 1998 is the true first edition. Signed copies exist (signed on the title page or via tipped-in bookplate from the tour), but a formal numbered Knopf signed limited edition is not reliably documented.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Paradise was a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection; the club edition lacks the stated First Edition and the printed jacket price and carries a blind stamp to the rear board.
I have a first edition of Paradise — 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.