The points of issue
First edition issued by Coward-McCann, New York, in 1936; Civil War escape novel, 332 pages. A first is identified by the 1936 imprint with no later-printing notice on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Coward-McCann, 1936). The UK first followed from Victor Gollancz, London, in 1937, published under the same title 'Arouse and Beware.'
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints and paperback editions exist (e.g., a 1958 Corgi softcover); confirm no additional-printing statement on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Arouse and Beware a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition issued by Coward-McCann, New York, in 1936; Civil War escape novel, 332 pages. A first is identified by the 1936 imprint with no later-printing notice on the copyright page.
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 first edition (Coward-McCann, 1936). The UK first followed from Victor Gollancz, London, in 1937, published under the same title 'Arouse and Beware.'
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reprints and paperback editions exist (e.g., a 1958 Corgi softcover); confirm no additional-printing statement on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Arouse and Beware — 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.