The points of issue
UK Michael Joseph first, 1979, with the 'First published in Great Britain' statement on the copyright page and no statement of a later impression. The second Sid Halley novel. It won the 1979 CWA Gold Dagger and the Edgar Award for Best Novel (awarded 1981 for the 1980 US edition) — one of only two novels to take both honors, alongside Le Carre's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
Is this the true first?
The UK Michael Joseph 1979 edition is the true first; the US Harper & Row 1980 edition is a first-thus and post-dates it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book Club Associates (BCA) UK editions carry a BCA code and no jacket price and are not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Whip Hand a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Michael Joseph first, 1979, with the 'First published in Great Britain' statement on the copyright page and no statement of a later impression. The second Sid Halley novel. It won the 1979 CWA Gold Dagger and the Edgar Award for Best Novel (awarded 1981 for the 1980 US edition) — one of only two novels to take both honors, alongside Le Carre's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
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 UK Michael Joseph 1979 edition is the true first; the US Harper & Row 1980 edition is a first-thus and post-dates it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book Club Associates (BCA) UK editions carry a BCA code and no jacket price and are not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Whip Hand — 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.