The points of issue
First published 1990 by Chatto & Windus; winner of the 1990 Booker Prize. The first-issue dust jacket is priced 13.95 (net) on the front flap, not 13.99. Subtitle 'A Romance' on title page; decorative boards, green top-stain to the text block, with silk ribbon marker. Her most collected book.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus (1990) is the true first; the US Random House edition appeared the same year. UK precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition; later film-era and reprint issues are not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Possession: A Romance a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First published 1990 by Chatto & Windus; winner of the 1990 Booker Prize. The first-issue dust jacket is priced 13.95 (net) on the front flap, not 13.99. Subtitle 'A Romance' on title page; decorative boards, green top-stain to the text block, with silk ribbon marker. Her most collected book.
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 Chatto & Windus (1990) is the true first; the US Random House edition appeared the same year. UK precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club edition; later film-era and reprint issues are not the first.
I have a first edition of Possession: A Romance — 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.