The points of issue
First UK edition, London, Barrie & Jenkins, October 1974. This was the last Jeeves and Wooster novel and the last novel Wodehouse completed. The US edition followed under the title The Cat-Nappers from Simon & Schuster on 14 April 1975, not 1974 as sometimes listed.
Is this the true first?
UK Barrie & Jenkins is the true first and precedes the US edition. The US was retitled The Cat-Nappers and appeared in 1975, roughly six months after the UK first; the differing titles are the key point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US and UK appeared under different titles.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Aunts Aren't Gentlemen a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, London, Barrie & Jenkins, October 1974. This was the last Jeeves and Wooster novel and the last novel Wodehouse completed. The US edition followed under the title The Cat-Nappers from Simon & Schuster on 14 April 1975, not 1974 as sometimes listed.
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 Barrie & Jenkins is the true first and precedes the US edition. The US was retitled The Cat-Nappers and appeared in 1975, roughly six months after the UK first; the differing titles are the key point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US and UK appeared under different titles.
I have a first edition of Aunts Aren't Gentlemen — 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.