# Is "Ah King" by W. Somerset Maugham a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Ah King by W. Somerset Maugham (William Heinemann, 1933) is identified by: First edition, full title 'Ah King: Six Stories', published by Heinemann in September 1933; the US Doubleday, Doran edition followed on 8 November 1933. UK Heinemann (September 1933) precedes the US Doubleday, Doran edition (8 November 1933).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, full title 'Ah King: Six Stories', published by Heinemann in September 1933; the US Doubleday, Doran edition followed on 8 November 1933
- Heinemann also issued a limited edition of 175 numbered copies signed by the author
- The six stories are Footprints in the Jungle, The Door of Opportunity, The Vessel of Wrath, The Book-Bag, Back of Beyond, and Neil MacAdam
- Publisher imprint reads William Heinemann
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | W. Somerset Maugham |
| Publisher | William Heinemann |
| Year | 1933 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, full title 'Ah King: Six Stories', published by Heinemann in September 1933; the US Doubleday, Doran edition followed on 8… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition, full title 'Ah King: Six Stories', published by Heinemann in September 1933; the US Doubleday, Doran edition followed on 8 November 1933. Heinemann also issued a limited edition of 175 numbered copies signed by the author. The six stories are Footprints in the Jungle, The Door of Opportunity, The Vessel of Wrath, The Book-Bag, Back of Beyond, and Neil MacAdam.

## Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann (September 1933) precedes the US Doubleday, Doran edition (8 November 1933).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Heinemann signed limited is 175 numbered copies; distinguish it from the ordinary trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Ah King* by W. Somerset Maugham a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/ah-king
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.