The points of issue
Italian 'Il nome della rosa,' Bompiani, Milan, 1980, is the true first. First English edition Harcourt Brace Jovanovich New York 1983 (trans. William Weaver); UK Secker & Warburg 1983.
Is this the true first?
True first is the Italian Bompiani 1980. First in English is Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1983 (US), with Secker & Warburg London 1983 as the first UK.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings shown by number line; US and UK English firsts distinguished by imprint. Book club editions lack the first-state priced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Name of the Rose a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Italian 'Il nome della rosa,' Bompiani, Milan, 1980, is the true first. First English edition Harcourt Brace Jovanovich New York 1983 (trans. William Weaver); UK Secker & Warburg 1983.
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. True first is the Italian Bompiani 1980. First in English is Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1983 (US), with Secker & Warburg London 1983 as the first UK.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings shown by number line; US and UK English firsts distinguished by imprint. Book club editions lack the first-state priced jacket.
I have a first edition of The Name of the Rose — 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.