The points of issue
Chatto & Windus London 1978 (Booker Prize winner). Publisher's boards with dust jacket, priced. UK first precedes US Viking 1978.
Is this the true first?
Chatto & Windus London 1978 is the true first; Viking New York 1978 is the first US.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions stated on copyright page; book club and US editions distinguished by imprint and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sea, the Sea a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Chatto & Windus London 1978 (Booker Prize winner). Publisher's boards with dust jacket, priced. UK first precedes US Viking 1978.
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. Chatto & Windus London 1978 is the true first; Viking New York 1978 is the first US.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions stated on copyright page; book club and US editions distinguished by imprint and pricing.
I have a first edition of The Sea, the Sea — 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.