The points of issue
First published 1980 by Secker & Warburg, London, so stated on the copyright page; black boards with gilt spine lettering and a laminated pictorial dust jacket priced in sterling, unclipped on first-issue jackets.
Is this the true first?
True first is the UK Secker & Warburg 1980 edition; the South African Ravan Press edition (Johannesburg) appeared in 1981 and is a later issue, and the US Penguin/Viking edition is later still. Despite Coetzee being South African, London preceded here.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition; the key distinction is UK Secker 1980 versus the 1981 Ravan Press South African printing - the Ravan is collectible but NOT the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Waiting for the Barbarians a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First published 1980 by Secker & Warburg, London, so stated on the copyright page; black boards with gilt spine lettering and a laminated pictorial dust jacket priced in sterling, unclipped on first-issue jackets.
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. True first is the UK Secker & Warburg 1980 edition; the South African Ravan Press edition (Johannesburg) appeared in 1981 and is a later issue, and the US Penguin/Viking edition is later still. Despite Coetzee being South African, London preceded here.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No major book-club edition; the key distinction is UK Secker 1980 versus the 1981 Ravan Press South African printing - the Ravan is collectible but NOT the true first.
I have a first edition of Waiting for the Barbarians — 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.