# Is "Rites of Passage" by William Golding a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Rites of Passage by William Golding (Faber & Faber, 1980) is identified by: First UK edition, Faber & Faber, London, 1980. The Faber UK edition (1980) is the true first, preceding the US Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition (1980).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads Faber & Faber
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Golding |
| Publisher | Faber & Faber |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First UK edition, Faber & Faber, London, 1980. 'First published in 1980' stated on the copyright page with no later impression line |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Rites of Passage* by William Golding a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/rites-of-passage
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.