The points of issue
Octavo; green boards with gilt spine titles; illustrated by Anthony Browne; copyright page states 'First published 1994' with the printer's key descending to 1. McEwan's first book of fiction for children.
Is this the true first?
First published by Jonathan Cape in London in 1994. The US HarperCollins edition appeared in 1994 as a separate setting.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US HarperCollins (1994) edition was also illustrated by Anthony Browne, not by Sempé; it stands as a separate first US edition rather than a differently illustrated one. Later UK impressions revise the printer's key.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Daydreamer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Octavo; green boards with gilt spine titles; illustrated by Anthony Browne; copyright page states 'First published 1994' with the printer's key descending to 1. McEwan's first book of fiction for children.
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. First published by Jonathan Cape in London in 1994. The US HarperCollins edition appeared in 1994 as a separate setting.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US HarperCollins (1994) edition was also illustrated by Anthony Browne, not by Sempé; it stands as a separate first US edition rather than a differently illustrated one. Later UK impressions revise the printer's key.
I have a first edition of The Daydreamer — 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.