# Is "Season of Anomy" by Wole Soyinka a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Season of Anomy by Wole Soyinka (Rex Collings, 1973) is identified by: First edition, first impression, Rex Collings, London, 1973; octavo, collating (iv) plus 320 pages. Rex Collings London 1973 is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first impression, Rex Collings, London, 1973; octavo, collating (iv) plus 320 pages
- Publisher's black cloth with gilt spine lettering and colored top edge; the first-state binding is known for a production error in which the gilt lettering on the backstrip runs upside down
- Issued in the original dust jacket, which should retain the printed price and be unclipped
- Soyinka's second (and last) novel
- Publisher imprint reads Rex Collings
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Wole Soyinka |
| Publisher | Rex Collings |
| Year | 1973 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first impression, Rex Collings, London, 1973; octavo, collating (iv) plus 320 pages |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition, first impression, Rex Collings, London, 1973; octavo, collating (iv) plus 320 pages. Publisher's black cloth with gilt spine lettering and colored top edge; the first-state binding is known for a production error in which the gilt lettering on the backstrip runs upside down. Issued in the original dust jacket, which should retain the printed price and be unclipped. Soyinka's second (and last) novel.

## Is this the true first?
Rex Collings London 1973 is the true first edition. The first US edition (Third Press, 1974) follows.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Nelson and later paperbacks are reprints; the inverted-spine gilt binding point and priced Rex Collings jacket distinguish the London first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Season of Anomy* by Wole Soyinka a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/season-of-anomy
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.