The points of issue
Byatt's debut novel. The true first edition of 1964 was published under the title 'Shadow of a Sun' (singular article), not 'The Shadow of the Sun'. Cecil Day-Lewis, then at Chatto & Windus, persuaded Byatt to change her intended title to the more euphonious 'Shadow of a Sun' for publication. First published 1964 by Chatto & Windus in blue cloth with a dust jacket priced 21s. Scarce in jacket.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus (1964), titled 'Shadow of a Sun', is the true first; the US Harcourt issue followed. UK precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The 1991 reissue restored Byatt's originally intended title 'The Shadow of the Sun' and carries a new introduction; it is a 'first thus' reprint, not the first edition. Cataloguers should note the title discrepancy: a book labelled 'The Shadow of the Sun' is the 1991 reissue, while the 1964 first reads 'Shadow of a Sun'.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Shadow of the Sun a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Byatt's debut novel. The true first edition of 1964 was published under the title 'Shadow of a Sun' (singular article), not 'The Shadow of the Sun'. Cecil Day-Lewis, then at Chatto & Windus, persuaded Byatt to change her intended title to the more euphonious 'Shadow of a Sun' for publication. First published 1964 by Chatto & Windus in blue cloth with a dust jacket priced 21s. Scarce in jacket.
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. UK Chatto & Windus (1964), titled 'Shadow of a Sun', is the true first; the US Harcourt issue followed. UK precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The 1991 reissue restored Byatt's originally intended title 'The Shadow of the Sun' and carries a new introduction; it is a 'first thus' reprint, not the first edition. Cataloguers should note the title discrepancy: a book labelled 'The Shadow of the Sun' is the 1991 reissue, while the 1964 first reads 'Shadow of a Sun'.
I have a first edition of The Shadow of the Sun — 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.