The points of issue
First UK hardcover, Jonathan Cape 1992, stating 'First published 1992' (ISBN 0224035878). Narrator is deliberately unnamed and genderless. Jacket priced and unclipped.
Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape 1992 hardcover is the true first; the US Knopf edition followed in 1993, so the UK precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Written on the Body a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK hardcover, Jonathan Cape 1992, stating 'First published 1992' (ISBN 0224035878). Narrator is deliberately unnamed and genderless. Jacket priced and unclipped.
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 Jonathan Cape 1992 hardcover is the true first; the US Knopf edition followed in 1993, so the UK precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition.
I have a first edition of Written on the Body — 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.