The points of issue
First Edition stated on the copyright page.
Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder · Harcourt, Brace and Company first-edition guide.
Is this the true first?
US first edition; the UK edition followed from Longmans in 1940.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings omit the First Edition statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ask Me Tomorrow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Edition stated 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; the UK edition followed from Longmans in 1940.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings omit the First Edition statement.
I have a first edition of Ask Me Tomorrow — 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.