The points of issue
McClelland & Stewart (Toronto) 2000 is the true first (Booker Prize winner), preceding the UK Bloomsbury and US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday editions of 2000. Canadian first has the M&S imprint and first-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
McClelland & Stewart Toronto 2000 is the true first; Bloomsbury London 2000 and Nan A. Talese/Doubleday New York 2000 follow. The Canadian first is the priority issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
UK and US editions distinguished by imprint; later printings by number line. Book club editions lack the M&S first-state points.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Blind Assassin a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: McClelland & Stewart (Toronto) 2000 is the true first (Booker Prize winner), preceding the UK Bloomsbury and US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday editions of 2000. Canadian first has the M&S imprint and first-printing statement.
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. McClelland & Stewart Toronto 2000 is the true first; Bloomsbury London 2000 and Nan A. Talese/Doubleday New York 2000 follow. The Canadian first is the priority issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
UK and US editions distinguished by imprint; later printings by number line. Book club editions lack the M&S first-state points.
I have a first edition of The Blind Assassin — 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.