The points of issue
Faber & Faber London 1989 (Booker Prize winner). First printing copyright page should show the full number line ending in '1' and no statement of later impression. Publisher's boards, dust jacket priced £11.99.
Is this the true first?
Faber London 1989 is the true first; Alfred A. Knopf New York 1989 is the first US. Signed first printings are sought after.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line not ending in '1', or a 'reprinted' statement, denotes a later impression; US Knopf edition carries a different imprint and jacket. Book club editions lack the priced Faber jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Remains of the Day a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Faber & Faber London 1989 (Booker Prize winner). First printing copyright page should show the full number line ending in '1' and no statement of later impression. Publisher's boards, dust jacket priced £11.99.
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. Faber London 1989 is the true first; Alfred A. Knopf New York 1989 is the first US. Signed first printings are sought after.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line not ending in '1', or a 'reprinted' statement, denotes a later impression; US Knopf edition carries a different imprint and jacket. Book club editions lack the priced Faber jacket.
I have a first edition of The Remains of the Day — 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.