# Is "The Key to Rebecca" by Ken Follett a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett (Hamish Hamilton, 1980) is identified by: The UK Hamish Hamilton edition (London, 1980) is the true first, identified by the 'First published 1980' statement on the copyright page in original cloth with a first-state jacket. The UK Hamish Hamilton edition takes precedence as the true first; the US Morrow edition is the first American edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The UK Hamish Hamilton edition (London, 1980) is the true first, identified by the 'First published 1980' statement on the copyright page in original cloth with a first-state jacket
- The US William Morrow edition (New York, 1980) is the first American edition
- Verify the first-printing copyright statement and an unclipped jacket
- Publisher imprint reads Hamish Hamilton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ken Follett |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The UK Hamish Hamilton edition (London, 1980) is the true first, identified by the 'First published 1980' statement on the copyright page… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The UK Hamish Hamilton edition (London, 1980) is the true first, identified by the 'First published 1980' statement on the copyright page in original cloth with a first-state jacket. The US William Morrow edition (New York, 1980) is the first American edition. Verify the first-printing copyright statement and an unclipped jacket.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Hamish Hamilton edition takes precedence as the true first; the US Morrow edition is the first American edition. This was Follett's third novel. Both editions are collected; confirm precedence by imprint and copyright statement.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack a printed jacket price, carry a blind-stamp on the rear board, and use lighter boards. Match the publisher imprint, first-printing statement, and an unclipped first-state jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Key to Rebecca* by Ken Follett a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-key-to-rebecca
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.