An online collection of books and ephemera
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. The Lemon Table. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. Pp. 240 + [6]. 19.2 x 13.3 cm.
Uncorrected Proof of the first U.S. edition. Paper cover in cream with provisional dust jacket art shown on the first preliminary page. This copy signed by the author.
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Arthur & George. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Pp. 389 [390] + [3]. 23.3 x 15.4 cm.
[Title page lists the date as 2006, but the proof was printed and distributed in 2005.]
“Advance Reader’s Edition” in decorative paper cover for distribution to reviewers and booksellers. Top of the front cover clearly labels the book “ADVANCE READER’S EDITION”, whereas the bottom of the inside front cover states, “UNCORRECTED PROOF · NOT FOR SALE”. Booksellers may list this edition as either an “advance reader’s copy” or “uncorrected proof”, but it is not to be confused with the uncorrected proof in blue wraps that received more limited distribution.
Back cover features a letter to “Colleagues” from Sonny Mehta, editor in chief at Knopf. Spine states date of publication for the hardback edition as “JANUARY 2006”.
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Arthur & George. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Pp. 385 [388] + [2]. 23.5 x 15.7 cm.
Uncorrected Proof in blue wraps distributed selectively prior to publication. This proof varies from the Alfred A. Knopf “Advance Reader’s Edition” with decorative wrappers distributed to reviewers. Title page states “2006”, but listed here as printed in 2005, because the hardback edition this proof promotes was published in January 2006, and this edition preceded the hardback.
Cover in blue with black lettering. Front cover states: “Julian Barnes | His New Novel | Arthur & George | Shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction 2005 | ALFRED A. KNOPF [publisher’s device] PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK | · PUBLICATION DATE 16 January 2006 · PRICE $24.95 | ANNOUNCED FIRST PRINTING: 100,000 COPIES | [line rule] | THIS IS AN UNCORRECTED PROOF | It should not be quoted without comparison with the finished book | FOR MORE INFORMATION: 212-572-2104 | knopfpublicity@randomhouse.com”
Back cover lists cities for an author tour, but the locations subsequently changed prior to the finalized itinerary.
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Arthur & George. Toronto: Random House Canada, 2005. Pp. 360. 21.3 x 13.9 cm.
Uncorrected proof copy in cream paper wraps.
Cover states: “OCTOBER 2005 | $34.95 · CLOTH · 400 PAGES · 6¼ x 9¼ | 0-679-31417-2 · FICTION”
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Arthur & George. London: Jonathan Cape, 2005. Pp. 360. 23.3 x 15.5 cm.
Uncorrected proof in light green paper wraps with black text and borders.
Stated to top of the front cover, “A JONATHAN CAPE UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY” and to the bottom front, “THE NEW NOVEL | OUT JULY 2005”.
The back cover lists the Proof ISBN as 022407671X. It also lists a promotional website address that is now defunct.
Publicity sheet folded and placed in the book lists the publication date as 7 July 2005 at £17.99.
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Love, etc. London: Jonathan Cape, 2000. Pp. 250. 20.6 x 13.5 cm.
Uncorrected Proof in light green paper cover with black lettering. ‘JONATHAN CAPE UNCORRECTED BOOK PROOF’ in black along bottom of upper panel. Issued with an orange publicity sheet stating publication information and author bio. Title listed as ‘Love, etc.’ [full stop]. The full stop was later removed in the first edition U.K. hardback. (20.6 x 13.5 cm).
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2015. Pp. 278. 21.6 x 17.2 cm.
Uncorrected proof in teal paper cover, as pictured. Front cover lists the publication date as “9 OCTOBER 2015”, a provisional price of $30.00.
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Staring at the Sun. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987. Pp. 195 + [5]. 21.2 x 13.7 cm.
Uncorrected Proof of Julian Barnes’s fourth novel Staring at the Sun. Published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1987, and bound in orange wraps with black lettering.
Two versions of this proof are shown. The first is as published, while the second has a slip of paper taped to the cover directly under the author’s name. The paper states, “Author of FLAUBERT’S PARROT.” This version also includes a handwritten tentative publication date of “April 2, 1987” and the tentative price of “$15.95.” Stapled inside the front cover are two promotional sheets. The first describes and promotes Staring at the Sun, and the second features review blurbs in promotion of Barnes’s widely acclaimed novel Flaubert’s Parrot.
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Through the Window: Seventeen Essays and a Short Story. New York: Vintage International, 2012. Pp. 243 + [1]. 20.2 x 13 cm.
Stated on top of cover: “THIS IS AN UNCORRECTED PROOF”. Includes a tentative publication date of October 30, 2012.
Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Talking It Over. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1991. Pp. 275 + [3]. 21.2 x 13.6 cm.
In 1991, prior to publishing the hardback edition, Alfred A. Knopf issued a special, signed “proof” edition of Julian Barnes’s novel Talking It Over. The text is bound in white wraps with black text and is housed in a glossy, black, stiff paper slip case/container with the title and graphics printed in white.
Though booksellers routinely refer to this edtion as a “limited” or signed “uncorrected proof”, nowhere on the book or cover does it clearly state that the book is an uncorrected proof, nor is there a limitation statement. That said, this edition was clearly published prior to the Knopf hardback and used as a promotional item.
Not to be confused with the standard uncorrected proof printed in blue paper covers and sent to reviewers.