The points of issue
First UK edition states 'First published in Great Britain in 1995 by Flamingo' on the copyright page; hardback in publisher's boards with the typographic Flamingo dust jacket. Note that Amis signed so many copies under his large publicity-driven advance that unsigned first-printing copies are comparatively scarce, so a signature alone does not establish priority.
Is this the true first?
Both the UK Flamingo edition and the US Harmony edition appeared in 1995, with Harmony recorded as published in late April 1995. Precise month-level priority between the two is not firmly documented; collectors generally treat the UK Flamingo as the first edition, but it is most accurate to describe them as same-year issues rather than to assert a definite precedence.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition of note for the first issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Information a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition states 'First published in Great Britain in 1995 by Flamingo' on the copyright page; hardback in publisher's boards with the typographic Flamingo dust jacket. Note that Amis signed so many copies under his large publicity-driven advance that unsigned first-printing copies are comparatively scarce, so a signature alone does not establish priority.
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. Both the UK Flamingo edition and the US Harmony edition appeared in 1995, with Harmony recorded as published in late April 1995. Precise month-level priority between the two is not firmly documented; collectors generally treat the UK Flamingo as the first edition, but it is most accurate to describe
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club edition of note for the first issue.
I have a first edition of The Information — 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.