The points of issue
First UK edition, London, 25 September 1969. The title-page imprint on the first edition reads Herbert Jenkins, the long-time Wodehouse house, though by this date the firm was corporately part of Barrie & Jenkins (a 1964 merger of Herbert Jenkins and Barrie & Rockliff). Either name may appear in catalogue descriptions of the same true first. The first-edition dust jacket carries an Osbert Lancaster front illustration and a Tom Blau photograph of Wodehouse on the rear panel.
Is this the true first?
UK edition is the true first and precedes the US edition, which appeared 11 February 1970 from Simon & Schuster under the changed title No Nudes Is Good Nudes. Differing titles are the key point distinguishing the two.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US and UK appeared under different titles. No separate book-club issue is a point of issue for the true UK first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Pelican at Blandings a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, London, 25 September 1969. The title-page imprint on the first edition reads Herbert Jenkins, the long-time Wodehouse house, though by this date the firm was corporately part of Barrie & Jenkins (a 1964 merger of Herbert Jenkins and Barrie & Rockliff). Either name may appear in catalogue descriptions of the same true first. The first-edition dust jacket carries an Osbert Lancaster front illustration and a Tom Blau photograph of Wodehouse on the rear panel.
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. UK edition is the true first and precedes the US edition, which appeared 11 February 1970 from Simon & Schuster under the changed title No Nudes Is Good Nudes. Differing titles are the key point distinguishing the two.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US and UK appeared under different titles. No separate book-club issue is a point of issue for the true UK first.
I have a first edition of A Pelican at Blandings — 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.