The points of issue
First English edition, translated by Victoria Holbrook, Carcanet Press, Manchester, 1990 (ISBN 0-85635-882-7). Boards with dust jacket; this was Pamuk's first book to appear in English. The US edition (George Braziller, New York) followed in 1991. The Turkish original appeared in 1985.
Is this the true first?
The Carcanet UK 1990 issue is the true first English edition; the George Braziller US edition of 1991 follows. Not Gollancz or Faber — Carcanet was the first English-language publisher.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Braziller US 1991, later Faber, and Vintage paperbacks are subsequent. Do not cite Gollancz.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The White Castle (Beyaz Kale) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English edition, translated by Victoria Holbrook, Carcanet Press, Manchester, 1990 (ISBN 0-85635-882-7). Boards with dust jacket; this was Pamuk's first book to appear in English. The US edition (George Braziller, New York) followed in 1991. The Turkish original appeared in 1985.
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 Carcanet UK 1990 issue is the true first English edition; the George Braziller US edition of 1991 follows. Not Gollancz or Faber — Carcanet was the first English-language publisher.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Braziller US 1991, later Faber, and Vintage paperbacks are subsequent. Do not cite Gollancz.
I have a first edition of The White Castle (Beyaz Kale) — 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.