The points of issue
States 'First published 1989' by Hutchinson on the copyright page. Original olive-green cloth, gilt spine titles, decorative endpapers, in a priced dust jacket. First book of Faulks's loose French trilogy (with Birdsong and Charlotte Gray).
Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson (1989) is the true first. The novel was never issued in US hardcover; the US Vintage paperback came much later. The UK precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition; post-Birdsong reprints are common. The hardcover first is the scarcest of Faulks's novels.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Girl at the Lion d'Or a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: States 'First published 1989' by Hutchinson on the copyright page. Original olive-green cloth, gilt spine titles, decorative endpapers, in a priced dust jacket. First book of Faulks's loose French trilogy (with Birdsong and Charlotte Gray).
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 Hutchinson (1989) is the true first. The novel was never issued in US hardcover; the US Vintage paperback came much later. The UK precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition; post-Birdsong reprints are common. The hardcover first is the scarcest of Faulks's novels.
I have a first edition of The Girl at the Lion d'Or — 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.