The points of issue
First American edition, translated by Edward G. Seidensticker. Borzoi device present; copyright page carries the FIRST AMERICAN EDITION statement. No number line on the true first (consistent with Knopf practice of the period). Dust jacket priced on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The Knopf US edition of 1970 is the first English-language edition and precedes the UK (Peter Owen, 1971). The Japanese original dates to 1954. This translation won the National Book Award for Translation.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Peter Owen UK edition and later paperbacks are reprints or first-thus. Confirm Knopf priority via the FIRST AMERICAN EDITION line and Borzoi device.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sound of the Mountain (Yama no Oto) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First American edition, translated by Edward G. Seidensticker. Borzoi device present; copyright page carries the FIRST AMERICAN EDITION statement. No number line on the true first (consistent with Knopf practice of the period). Dust jacket priced on the front flap.
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. The Knopf US edition of 1970 is the first English-language edition and precedes the UK (Peter Owen, 1971). The Japanese original dates to 1954. This translation won the National Book Award for Translation.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Peter Owen UK edition and later paperbacks are reprints or first-thus. Confirm Knopf priority via the FIRST AMERICAN EDITION line and Borzoi device.
I have a first edition of The Sound of the Mountain (Yama no Oto) — 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.