The points of issue
Biography in hardcover; boards with gilt-lettered spine; copyright page reads 'First published 1984' (ISBN 0241113490, 400 pages); original priced dust jacket. The UK title on the title page is simply 'T. S. Eliot'.
Is this the true first?
The UK Hamish Hamilton 1984 hardcover, titled 'T. S. Eliot', is the true first. The 'A Life' subtitle belongs to the US Simon & Schuster 1984 edition ('T. S. Eliot: A Life'), which followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions state the impression on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of T. S. Eliot: A Life a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Biography in hardcover; boards with gilt-lettered spine; copyright page reads 'First published 1984' (ISBN 0241113490, 400 pages); original priced dust jacket. The UK title on the title page is simply 'T. S. Eliot'.
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 Hamish Hamilton 1984 hardcover, titled 'T. S. Eliot', is the true first. The 'A Life' subtitle belongs to the US Simon & Schuster 1984 edition ('T. S. Eliot: A Life'), which followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions state the impression on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of T. S. Eliot: A Life — 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.