Choke

The Doubleday US edition (New York, published 22 May 2001) precedes the UK first from Jonathan Cape (London, July 2001) by roughly six weeks, so the census claim is correct and the Doubleday US is the true first. The Jonathan Cape UK first edition is separately collected as the first British edition and should be described as such rather than as a first edition of the work. An uncorrected Cape proof in printed wraps (London, 2001) precedes both trade issues and is a proof, not an edition. The Anchor trade paperback (2002) is a later reprint and is not a collectible "first thus."