The points of issue
First UK edition published 1991 by Chatto & Windus in London, hardcover in cloth boards with the original unclipped dust jacket. Carter's final novel, issued shortly before her death in February 1992.
Is this the true first?
The Chatto & Windus 1991 UK hardcover is the true first edition. The first US edition followed from Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1992, so the UK edition precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition reported for the first issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wise Children a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition published 1991 by Chatto & Windus in London, hardcover in cloth boards with the original unclipped dust jacket. Carter's final novel, issued shortly before her death in February 1992.
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 Chatto & Windus 1991 UK hardcover is the true first edition. The first US edition followed from Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1992, so the UK edition precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition reported for the first issue.
I have a first edition of Wise Children — 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.