The points of issue
Indian first edition, Ravi Dayal Publisher (Delhi), 1995, hardcover in dust jacket. UK Picador and US Avon editions followed in 1996. The Ravi Dayal Indian first is markedly scarcer than the Western editions.
Is this the true first?
The Ravi Dayal Indian edition (1995) precedes the UK Picador (1996) and US Avon editions and is the true first. Winner of the 1997 Arthur C. Clarke Award. Ravi Dayal was Ghosh's Indian publisher of the period; 'Picador India' is not the correct first-edition imprint for the original Indian issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The UK Picador and US Avon editions are 'first thus' for their territories, not the true first; later reissues are reprints. Sources place the Ravi Dayal Indian edition in 1995; precise month-level precedence against the 1996 Western editions should be confirmed copy-in-hand.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Calcutta Chromosome a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Indian first edition, Ravi Dayal Publisher (Delhi), 1995, hardcover in dust jacket. UK Picador and US Avon editions followed in 1996. The Ravi Dayal Indian first is markedly scarcer than the Western editions.
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 Ravi Dayal Indian edition (1995) precedes the UK Picador (1996) and US Avon editions and is the true first. Winner of the 1997 Arthur C. Clarke Award. Ravi Dayal was Ghosh's Indian publisher of the period; 'Picador India' is not the correct first-edition imprint for the original Indian issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The UK Picador and US Avon editions are 'first thus' for their territories, not the true first; later reissues are reprints. Sources place the Ravi Dayal Indian edition in 1995; precise month-level precedence against the 1996 Western editions should be confirmed copy-in-hand.
I have a first edition of The Calcutta Chromosome — 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.