The points of issue
Viking/Penguin London 1988. First printing copyright page with full number line; dust jacket priced. Publisher's boards. Notorious for the fatwa controversy.
Is this the true first?
Viking London 1988 is the true first; Viking New York 1989 is the first US. UK precedes US.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions shown by number line; US edition dated 1989 with US imprint. Signed copies are scarce due to the security situation surrounding the author.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Satanic Verses a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Viking/Penguin London 1988. First printing copyright page with full number line; dust jacket priced. Publisher's boards. Notorious for the fatwa controversy.
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. Viking London 1988 is the true first; Viking New York 1989 is the first US. UK precedes US.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions shown by number line; US edition dated 1989 with US imprint. Signed copies are scarce due to the security situation surrounding the author.
I have a first edition of The Satanic Verses — 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.