The points of issue
First printing under the original UK title After Many a Summer (Chatto & Windus, London, 1939). The American edition (Harper & Brothers, 1939) carries the expanded title After Many a Summer Dies the Swan.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus is the true first under the shorter title; the US Harper edition appeared the same year with the fuller title. Title wording is the key distinguishing point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Differing US and UK titles distinguish the two editions.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of After Many a Summer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing under the original UK title After Many a Summer (Chatto & Windus, London, 1939). The American edition (Harper & Brothers, 1939) carries the expanded title After Many a Summer Dies the Swan.
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 Chatto & Windus is the true first under the shorter title; the US Harper edition appeared the same year with the fuller title. Title wording is the key distinguishing point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Differing US and UK titles distinguish the two editions.
I have a first edition of After Many a Summer — 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.