# Is "The Old Devils" by Kingsley Amis a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis (Hutchinson, 1986) is identified by: First UK edition, Hutchinson, London, 1986. The UK Hutchinson edition is the true first; the US edition (Summit Books) appeared in 1987.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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 with its printed price on the front flap
- Won the 1986 Booker Prize
- Publisher imprint reads Hutchinson
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Kingsley Amis |
| Publisher | Hutchinson |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First UK edition, Hutchinson, London, 1986. 'First published 1986' on the verso of the title page with no later printings indicated |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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 with its printed price 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Old Devils* by Kingsley Amis a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-old-devils
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.