The Satanic Verses
Philosophical Fiction Literary Fiction Religious Fiction Magical Realism Post-Colonial Fiction Contemporary Literature Modern Classic
Collectors searching for a true first edition of Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses will appreciate this 1989 Penguin hardback—one of the most sought-after modern firsts on the market. Bound in the original black cloth and still housing its unclipped dust jacket, this 560-page novel is the controversial masterpiece that fused magical realism with post-colonial commentary and instantly became a cornerstone of late-20th-century literature. At 236 mm tall and weighing just under a kilo, it has the satisfying heft collectors expect from a premium vintage printing.
What makes this copy special is the combination of scarcity and condition: a genuine first-edition, first-printing that has remained tight and square despite three decades on the shelf. The pages are clean, free of dog-ears, annotations, or ex-libris markings, while the dust jacket—though showing the inevitable edge tears and page-toning typical of 1989 paper—still presents well in a mylar wrap. No signatures or inscriptions mar the text block, preserving the book exactly as issued.
Beyond investment value, this hardcover offers readers the full impact of Rushdie’s virtuosic prose: the dream-woven narrative of Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, the philosophical questions of identity and migration, and the audacious storytelling that ignited global debate. Whether you are completing a first-edition Rushdie set, hunting a key title in post-modern fiction, or simply want the earliest English-language printing of a modern classic, this copy delivers both literary significance and collectible pedigree.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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