The points of issue
True first is the William Heinemann London edition, published March 1928; linked spy stories that proved influential on later espionage fiction. The earliest Heinemann impression precedes a same-year second impression.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann (March 1928) is the true first, preceding the US Doubleday Doran edition (1928) by about a day.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue. A second Heinemann impression appeared the same year; collectors distinguish the first impression.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ashenden, or The British Agent a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the William Heinemann London edition, published March 1928; linked spy stories that proved influential on later espionage fiction. The earliest Heinemann impression precedes a same-year second impression.
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 Heinemann (March 1928) is the true first, preceding the US Doubleday Doran edition (1928) by about a day.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue. A second Heinemann impression appeared the same year; collectors distinguish the first impression.
I have a first edition of Ashenden, or The British Agent — 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.