# Is "Vacant Possession" by Hilary Mantel a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Vacant Possession by Hilary Mantel (Chatto & Windus, 1986) is identified by: States 'First published 1986' by Chatto & Windus on the copyright page. UK Chatto & Windus (1986) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- States 'First published 1986' by Chatto & Windus on the copyright page
- Original green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, in a priced dust jacket
- Mantel's second novel, a sequel to her debut Every Day Is Mother's Day
- Publisher imprint reads Chatto & Windus
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Hilary Mantel |
| Publisher | Chatto & Windus |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | States 'First published 1986' by Chatto & Windus on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
States 'First published 1986' by Chatto & Windus on the copyright page. Original green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, in a priced dust jacket. Mantel's second novel, a sequel to her debut Every Day Is Mother's Day.

## Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus (1986) is the true first. The US Holt edition came much later (2000). The UK strongly precedes.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Vacant Possession* by Hilary Mantel a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/vacant-possession
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.