The points of issue
Hardback in boards with gilt-lettered spine, issued in dust jacket. First edition, first impression has the full number line ending in 1; later printings state the impression. Booker Prize longlisted.
Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape edition (6 September 2005, ISBN 0224061615) and the US edition were released on the same date, so the two are effectively simultaneous rather than one preceding the other. The US first edition was published by Alfred A. Knopf, not Random House; collectors generally treat the Cape printing as the UK first and the Knopf printing as the US first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add the impression statement on the copyright page; the true first shows the complete number line down to 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Shalimar the Clown a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardback in boards with gilt-lettered spine, issued in dust jacket. First edition, first impression has the full number line ending in 1; later printings state the impression. Booker Prize longlisted.
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 UK Jonathan Cape edition (6 September 2005, ISBN 0224061615) and the US edition were released on the same date, so the two are effectively simultaneous rather than one preceding the other. The US first edition was published by Alfred A. Knopf, not Random House; collectors generally treat the Cap
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions add the impression statement on the copyright page; the true first shows the complete number line down to 1.
I have a first edition of Shalimar the Clown — 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.