The points of issue
First edition, first printing. Illustrated biography (a large-format work with 48 color and 97 black-and-white plates, 272 pages). Published in 1970 by Jonathan Cape in the UK and Alfred A. Knopf in the US.
Is this the true first?
Both the UK Cape and US Knopf editions are dated 1970. Sources do not firmly establish which was issued first, so the UK-first claim should not be presented as definitive.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Shakespeare a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing. Illustrated biography (a large-format work with 48 color and 97 black-and-white plates, 272 pages). Published in 1970 by Jonathan Cape in the UK and Alfred A. Knopf in the US.
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. Both the UK Cape and US Knopf editions are dated 1970. Sources do not firmly establish which was issued first, so the UK-first claim should not be presented as definitive.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted.
I have a first edition of Shakespeare — 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.