The points of issue
First UK edition 1969, Eyre & Spottiswoode. 'First published 1969' on the verso with no additional printings stated. Original cloth in dust jacket. Won the 1970 Booker Prize; Rubens was the first woman to win.
Is this the true first?
UK Eyre & Spottiswoode edition is the true first. The US edition was retitled 'Chosen People' (Atheneum, New York, 1969), so a US-titled copy is not the true first of the work as the author first published it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US edition retitled 'Chosen People' (Atheneum); any copy under that title is not the UK first. No prominent book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Elected Member a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition 1969, Eyre & Spottiswoode. 'First published 1969' on the verso with no additional printings stated. Original cloth in dust jacket. Won the 1970 Booker Prize; Rubens was the first woman to win.
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 Eyre & Spottiswoode edition is the true first. The US edition was retitled 'Chosen People' (Atheneum, New York, 1969), so a US-titled copy is not the true first of the work as the author first published it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US edition retitled 'Chosen People' (Atheneum); any copy under that title is not the UK first. No prominent book-club edition.
I have a first edition of The Elected Member — 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.