The points of issue
Swift's debut novel; brown boards lettered in gilt at the spine, 221 pages; copyright page reads 'First published 1980'; original dust jacket (the spine panel is prone to fading). ISBN 0713912472.
Is this the true first?
UK Allen Lane (1980) precedes the US Poseidon/Washington Square paperback editions of the mid-1980s; the Allen Lane hardcover is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; scarce in a bright unfaded jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sweet Shop Owner a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Swift's debut novel; brown boards lettered in gilt at the spine, 221 pages; copyright page reads 'First published 1980'; original dust jacket (the spine panel is prone to fading). ISBN 0713912472.
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 Allen Lane (1980) precedes the US Poseidon/Washington Square paperback editions of the mid-1980s; the Allen Lane hardcover is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; scarce in a bright unfaded jacket.
I have a first edition of The Sweet Shop Owner — 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.