# Is "The Book of Evidence" by John Banville a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Book of Evidence by John Banville (Secker & Warburg, 1989) is identified by: The true first is Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd (London), 1989. UK Secker & Warburg 1989 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The true first is Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd (London), 1989
- Copyright page states 'First published in Great Britain in 1989' by Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd, London (ISBN 0436032678 / 9780436032677)
- Dark cloth boards with gilt spine titles; dust jacket priced 10.the printed price (an unclipped jacket retaining the price is preferred)
- The UK Secker edition precedes the US first edition, which is Charles Scribner's Sons (Scribner), New York, also 1989 (ISBN 0684191806 / 9780684191805) — not a 1990 edition, and there is no Godine edition of this title
- Publisher imprint reads Secker & Warburg
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Banville |
| Publisher | Secker & Warburg |
| Year | 1989 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The true first is Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd (London), 1989 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
The true first is Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd (London), 1989. Copyright page states 'First published in Great Britain in 1989' by Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd, London (ISBN 0436032678 / 9780436032677). Dark cloth boards with gilt spine titles; dust jacket priced 10.the printed price (an unclipped jacket retaining the price is preferred). The UK Secker edition precedes the US first edition, which is Charles Scribner's Sons (Scribner), New York, also 1989 (ISBN 0684191806 / 9780684191805) — not a 1990 edition, and there is no Godine edition of this title.

## Is this the true first?
UK Secker & Warburg 1989 is the true first. The US first edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York) also appeared in 1989, with the UK edition preceding it; it is not a 1990 publication. Booker-shortlisted; Guinness Peat Aviation Award winner.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition of note. Distinguish the true first by confirming the Secker & Warburg (London) imprint and the 'First published in Great Britain in 1989' statement, as opposed to the US Scribner printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Book of Evidence* by John Banville a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-book-of-evidence
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.