A Clockwork Orange (1962)

A Heinemann first edition of A Clockwork Orange, published in 1962, is bound in black with the spine lettered in gilt, in Barry Trengove's jacket. The first state jacket has wide flaps and is priced 16s on the front flap.

What to check:

• Binding: black, spine lettered in gilt.
• Jacket: Barry Trengove's design (some dealers spell it Trengrove), priced 16s on the front flap, with wide flaps.

The traps come from Heinemann's later issues. A later jacket with trimmed flaps and a price of 18s exists, and later copies were bound in purple or mauve rather than black. An 18s jacket on a black first issue book is a common combination and is worth less than a 16s jacket. Dealers disagree about the exact sequence of the later issues, so concentrate on the black binding and the 16s price.

The American first, published by Norton in 1963, is a different book: it leaves out the final chapter that appears in the British edition. Heinemann also reissued the book in 1982.

The black boards show every scuff and the gilt on the spine rubs, so look for bright lettering. The jacket's spine is prone to fading and chipping.

Sources: First and Fine, rarebooks.ie, rareandantiquebooks.com and Heritage Auctions.