The points of issue
UK Hutchinson first edition, first impression, 1972, octavo, in publisher's cloth with first-issue dust jacket; collation is ix plus 309 pages. The copyright page of a first impression carries the first-published-1972 statement with no later-impression line.
Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson (1972) is the true first; the US Viking Press edition followed later in 1972. Forsyth's second novel, after The Day of the Jackal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions (UK Companion/Reprint Society; US Book-of-the-Month) bear club blind-stamps or a Book Club note on the jacket flap, omit a stated price, and are on bulkier reprint paper.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Odessa File a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Hutchinson first edition, first impression, 1972, octavo, in publisher's cloth with first-issue dust jacket; collation is ix plus 309 pages. The copyright page of a first impression carries the first-published-1972 statement with no later-impression line.
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 (1972) is the true first; the US Viking Press edition followed later in 1972. Forsyth's second novel, after The Day of the Jackal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions (UK Companion/Reprint Society; US Book-of-the-Month) bear club blind-stamps or a Book Club note on the jacket flap, omit a stated price, and are on bulkier reprint paper.
I have a first edition of The Odessa File — 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.