The points of issue
First UK edition, Hutchinson, London, 1986. 'First published 1986' on the verso of the title page with no later printings indicated. Original boards in dust jacket priced £9.95 net on the front flap. Won the 1986 Booker Prize.
Is this the true first?
The UK Hutchinson edition is the true first; the US edition (Summit Books) appeared in 1987.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Summit edition is later and US-priced. No prominent book-club edition affects the true first. A separately bound signed London Limited Editions issue exists but is a distinct limited issue, not the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Old Devils a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, Hutchinson, London, 1986. 'First published 1986' on the verso of the title page with no later printings indicated. Original boards in dust jacket priced £9.95 net on the front flap. Won the 1986 Booker Prize.
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. The UK Hutchinson edition is the true first; the US edition (Summit Books) appeared in 1987.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US Summit edition is later and US-priced. No prominent book-club edition affects the true first. A separately bound signed London Limited Editions issue exists but is a distinct limited issue, not the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Old Devils — 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.