The points of issue
First UK edition, Faber & Faber, London, 1980. 'First published in 1980' stated on the copyright page with no later impression line. Dark blue-green paper-covered boards, titles gilt on spine; first-issue dust jacket priced 5.95 net (unclipped). Winner of the 1980 Booker Prize.
Is this the true first?
The Faber UK edition (1980) is the true first, preceding the US Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition (1980).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add a printing statement on the copyright page. The US edition carries a US imprint. No prominent book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rites of Passage a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, Faber & Faber, London, 1980. 'First published in 1980' stated on the copyright page with no later impression line. Dark blue-green paper-covered boards, titles gilt on spine; first-issue dust jacket priced 5.95 net (unclipped). Winner of the 1980 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 Faber UK edition (1980) is the true first, preceding the US Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition (1980).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions add a printing statement on the copyright page. The US edition carries a US imprint. No prominent book-club edition.
I have a first edition of Rites of Passage — 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.