The points of issue
Morrison's first novel. The first printing is identified by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing notation. The binding is blue quarter cloth, the spine lettered in silver, over grey paper-covered sides. The dust jacket reproduces the opening paragraphs of the first chapter on the front panel. The first printing was small, making it markedly scarcer in jacket than Beloved.
Is this the true first?
The US Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition is the true first (1970); it precedes the UK Chatto and Windus edition (1979). It is the cornerstone scarce Morrison first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identify the first by the stated First Edition on the copyright page; later printings carry a printing notation instead. Beware the 1979 UK first being mistaken for the world first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Bluest Eye a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Morrison's first novel. The first printing is identified by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing notation. The binding is blue quarter cloth, the spine lettered in silver, over grey paper-covered sides. The dust jacket reproduces the opening paragraphs of the first chapter on the front panel. The first printing was small, making it markedly scarcer in jacket than Beloved.
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 US Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition is the true first (1970); it precedes the UK Chatto and Windus edition (1979). It is the cornerstone scarce Morrison first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identify the first by the stated First Edition on the copyright page; later printings carry a printing notation instead. Beware the 1979 UK first being mistaken for the world first.
I have a first edition of The Bluest Eye — 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.