The points of issue
First English edition, 1994, translated by Guneli Gun, issued by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the US and Faber & Faber in the UK. Cloth in dust jacket. The Gun translation is the original first English text; the later Maureen Freely retranslation of 2006 is a separate first-thus, not the first English appearance. The Turkish original appeared in 1990.
Is this the true first?
The 1994 Gun translation is the true first English edition. US and UK appeared the same year; precedence between the FSG and Faber imprints is not firmly established, so verify by imprint on the copy in hand. The 2006 Freely retranslation is a distinct first-thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The 2006 Freely translation and later paperbacks are subsequent. Distinguish the Gun (1994) and Freely (2006) translations.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Black Book (Kara Kitap) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English edition, 1994, translated by Guneli Gun, issued by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the US and Faber & Faber in the UK. Cloth in dust jacket. The Gun translation is the original first English text; the later Maureen Freely retranslation of 2006 is a separate first-thus, not the first English appearance. The Turkish original appeared in 1990.
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 1994 Gun translation is the true first English edition. US and UK appeared the same year; precedence between the FSG and Faber imprints is not firmly established, so verify by imprint on the copy in hand. The 2006 Freely retranslation is a distinct first-thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The 2006 Freely translation and later paperbacks are subsequent. Distinguish the Gun (1994) and Freely (2006) translations.
I have a first edition of The Black Book (Kara Kitap) — 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.