The points of issue
First printing, the third Enderby novel. The London Hart-Davis MacGibbon edition of 1974 precedes the American Alfred A. Knopf edition of 1975. The UK first runs to 126 pages in blue boards; the later Knopf edition adds illustrations by the Quay brothers.
Is this the true first?
UK Hart-Davis MacGibbon 1974 is the true first; the US Knopf edition followed in 1975.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue identified.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Clockwork Testament, or Enderby's End a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, the third Enderby novel. The London Hart-Davis MacGibbon edition of 1974 precedes the American Alfred A. Knopf edition of 1975. The UK first runs to 126 pages in blue boards; the later Knopf edition adds illustrations by the Quay brothers.
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. UK Hart-Davis MacGibbon 1974 is the true first; the US Knopf edition followed in 1975.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue identified.
I have a first edition of The Clockwork Testament, or Enderby's End — 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.