The points of issue
The first English-language edition is the Knopf 1997 hardcover (translated by Jay Rubin). The first printing is identified by the stated 'First American Edition' on the copyright page with no notice of later printings; Borzoi colophon; first-issue jacket carries its printed flap price. The English text is condensed relative to the Japanese original.
Is this the true first?
Knopf 1997 is the first English edition; the absolute true first is the Japanese three-volume original (Shinchosha, 1994-95). The UK Harvill edition follows Knopf. The English translation is abridged.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant English club edition. The absolute true first is the Japanese 1994-95 edition; among English printings, the 'First American Edition' statement distinguishes the Knopf first from later/UK printings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first English-language edition is the Knopf 1997 hardcover (translated by Jay Rubin). The first printing is identified by the stated 'First American Edition' on the copyright page with no notice of later printings; Borzoi colophon; first-issue jacket carries its printed flap price. The English text is condensed relative to the Japanese original.
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. Knopf 1997 is the first English edition; the absolute true first is the Japanese three-volume original (Shinchosha, 1994-95). The UK Harvill edition follows Knopf. The English translation is abridged.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant English club edition. The absolute true first is the Japanese 1994-95 edition; among English printings, the 'First American Edition' statement distinguishes the Knopf first from later/UK printings.
I have a first edition of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle — 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.