The points of issue
First published 1978 by Chatto & Windus; first volume of the Frederica Potter quartet. Cloth boards with priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus (1978) is the true first; the US Knopf edition followed in 1979. UK precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Virgin in the Garden a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First published 1978 by Chatto & Windus; first volume of the Frederica Potter quartet. Cloth boards with priced dust 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 (1978) is the true first; the US Knopf edition followed in 1979. UK precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition.
I have a first edition of The Virgin in the Garden — 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.