The points of issue
Toibin's debut novel, a Serpent's Tail paperback original, London, 1990 (ISBN 1852421703), with French flaps; first edition, first impression. Won the Irish Times/Aer Lingus First Fiction Award and was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award. Genuinely scarce as a true first.
Is this the true first?
The UK Serpent's Tail (1990) paperback original is the true first. The later Picador edition is a revised/reset text (a 'first thus' of the revision). A US Viking edition followed in 1991.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Picador revised edition and later reprints are not the true first; collectors should expect the original to be a paperback original rather than a hardcover.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The South a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Toibin's debut novel, a Serpent's Tail paperback original, London, 1990 (ISBN 1852421703), with French flaps; first edition, first impression. Won the Irish Times/Aer Lingus First Fiction Award and was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award. Genuinely scarce as a true first.
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 UK Serpent's Tail (1990) paperback original is the true first. The later Picador edition is a revised/reset text (a 'first thus' of the revision). A US Viking edition followed in 1991.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Picador revised edition and later reprints are not the true first; collectors should expect the original to be a paperback original rather than a hardcover.
I have a first edition of The South — 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.