# Is "Possession" by A.S. Byatt a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Possession by A.S. Byatt (Chatto & Windus, 1990) is identified by: Chatto & Windus, London, 1990 (Booker Prize winner). Chatto & Windus London 1990 is the true first; Random House New York 1990 is the first US.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Chatto & Windus, London, 1990 (Booker Prize winner)
- First edition / first impression is identified by the COPYRIGHT-PAGE STATEMENT, not by a number line: the copyright page reads "Published in 1990 by Chatto & Windus" (first published statement) with NO later-impression line and names the printer as Butler & Tanner
- Later impressions (e.g
- 5th, 6th impressions of the 1990 Chatto edition exist) add an impression statement
- The claim of "a full number line ending in '1'" is NOT supported by collector references (fedpo.com and dealer descriptions) and appears to be an erroneous/templated detail — Chatto & Windus first impressions of this title are typically not designated by a descending 10–1 number line
- First-state dust jacket is unclipped, with its printed price, and carries NO reference to the Booker Prize
- Publisher imprint reads Chatto & Windus

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | A.S. Byatt |
| Publisher | Chatto & Windus |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Chatto & Windus, London, 1990 (Booker Prize winner) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Chatto & Windus, London, 1990 (Booker Prize winner). First edition / first impression is identified by the COPYRIGHT-PAGE STATEMENT, not by a number line: the copyright page reads "Published in 1990 by Chatto & Windus" (first published statement) with NO later-impression line and names the printer as Butler & Tanner. Later impressions (e.g. 5th, 6th impressions of the 1990 Chatto edition exist) add an impression statement. The claim of "a full number line ending in '1'" is NOT supported by collector references (fedpo.com and dealer descriptions) and appears to be an erroneous/templated detail — Chatto & Windus first impressions of this title are typically not designated by a descending 10–1 number line. First-state dust jacket is unclipped, with its printed price, and carries NO reference to the Booker Prize. Binding: blue publisher's boards (cloth-backed boards) with blue-stained top edge and a sewn-in dark blue silk ribbon marker; 511 pp.

## Is this the true first?
Chatto & Windus London 1990 is the true first; Random House New York 1990 is the first US. The UK first is more desirable.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Number line not ending in '1' indicates a later printing; US edition carries Random House imprint. Book club editions lack the priced Chatto jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Possession* by A.S. Byatt a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/possession
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.