The points of issue
US Doran edition (4 October 1919) precedes the UK Herbert Jenkins edition (15 October 1919) by about eleven days.
Is this the true first?
US Doran is the true first (early October 1919); the UK Jenkins edition followed later the same month.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Damsel in Distress a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Doran edition (4 October 1919) precedes the UK Herbert Jenkins edition (15 October 1919) by about eleven days.
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. US Doran is the true first (early October 1919); the UK Jenkins edition followed later the same month.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of A Damsel in Distress — 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.