W. Somerset Maugham First Editions

• Liza of Lambeth — 1897 · T. Fisher UnwinFirst printing in original green cloth (Maugham's first novel), with about two thousand copies. The first issue carries 'all rights reserved' in brackets on the verso of the title page and six pages of publisher's advertisements at the rear. Later Colonial-issue sheets were drawn upon for subsequent issues. UK T. Fisher Unwin is the true first; the US edition (Doran) came much later. A revised edition appeared in 1904 with textual changes; not a book-club issue.
• The Making of a Saint — 1898 · L.C. PageUS L.C. Page (Boston) edition precedes the UK T. Fisher Unwin edition by roughly a month. Maugham's second book and a historical novel. The first issue has two-color (parti-colored) spine lettering; later states show all-black spine lettering. US L.C. Page is the true first, preceding UK Unwin (1898) by about a month. No book-club issue.
• Orientations — 1899 · T. Fisher UnwinFirst printing in green cloth from Unwin's the printed price library, spine lettered in gilt. Maugham's first collection of short stories (six tales). No American edition was published. UK T. Fisher Unwin is the true first; there was no US edition. No book-club issue.
• The Hero — 1901 · HutchinsonFirst printing in dahlia red silk-grained cloth, with Maugham's Moorish symbol blocked in gold on the front cover (its first appearance on one of his books) and gilt spine lettering. Small print run; some early copies show the symbol printed upside down. UK Hutchinson is the true first. No book-club issue.
• Mrs. Craddock — 1902 · William HeinemannFirst printing in green cloth stamped in black with Maugham's Moorish symbol and gilt title; heavier paper than later printings. The first edition includes the Epistle Dedicatory and the text as cut by Heinemann (passages deemed objectionable were removed for this issue). UK William Heinemann is the true first; the US Doran edition followed. This was Maugham's first title from Heinemann. A later revised edition restores the censored passages from the original manuscript and differs textually; not a book-club issue.
• The Merry-Go-Round — 1904 · William HeinemannFirst printing in blue cloth lettered in gilt on spine and upper board with the author's gilt-stamped device. 3,000 copies printed; unsold sheets were remaindered to The Times Book Club, which reissued the book with a new binding and title page, so the true first carries the Heinemann title page and binding. UK Heinemann is the true first edition. No book-club edition; note the later Times Book Club remainder reissue with a substituted binding and title leaf.
• The Land of the Blessed Virgin — 1905 · William HeinemannFirst printing of Maugham's Andalusia travel sketches (full title The Land of the Blessed Virgin: Sketches and Impressions in Andalusia), published by William Heinemann in London in January 1905 in a stated edition of 1,250 copies, with a photogravure frontispiece of the Madonna under a tissue guard. The first-issue binding is quarter parchment (white vellum spine) over Madonna-blue paper-covered boards, lettered…. UK Heinemann 1905 is the true first; the US Knopf edition (1920) is a later, revised printing. No book-club issue.
• The Bishop's Apron — 1906 · Chapman & HallFirst printing in red (rose linen-grain) cloth lettered in gilt on front cover and spine, with "Chapman & Hall" at the foot of the spine. The whole edition (about 1,500 copies) was printed from a single casting of type; the publisher added "Second Edition," "Third Edition," and "Fourth Edition" to some title pages to feign strong sales, so the true first bears no edition statement on the title page. Scarce. UK Chapman & Hall is the true first. No book-club issue; beware later "edition" statements struck from the same setting of type.
• The Explorer — 1908 · William HeinemannFirst printing of the novel. UK Heinemann 1908 precedes the US Baker & Taylor edition of 1909. UK Heinemann is the true first; US Baker & Taylor followed in 1909. No book-club issue.
• The Magician — 1908 · William HeinemannFirst edition, William Heinemann (London), 1908, the true first. The magician Oliver Haddo is Maugham's caricature of Aleister Crowley, who was so incensed that he reviewed the book in Vanity Fair over the byline 'Oliver Haddo.' The Heinemann issue precedes the first US edition by a full year. The UK Heinemann edition of 1908 is the true first; the US Duffield & Company edition followed in 1909 (the American issue is in pictorial slate-blue cloth stamped on the front and spine). No book-club issue. The principal precedence point is simply US versus UK: the 1909 Duffield American first is a year later than the Heinemann first.
• Of Human Bondage — 1915 · George H. DoranThe US George H. Doran edition precedes the UK Heinemann edition (both 1915). The true first issue is identified by the uncorrected misprint "help" for "helped" on page 257, line 4, and by the absence of the Doran colophon/monogram on the copyright page; green cloth blocked in gilt on front board and spine. US Doran 1915 is the true first; the UK Heinemann edition followed the same year. Numerous later printings and book-club copies exist; confirm the page-257 misprint and the absent Doran monogram before treating a copy as the first issue.
• The Moon and Sixpence — 1919 · William HeinemannTrue first is the William Heinemann London edition of 1919, in sage/green cloth lettered and decorated in black. The first issue is identified by the publisher's advertisements bound in at the rear (four pages of ads, including titles by Israel Zangwill); later issues alter or omit these ads. UK Heinemann (April 1919) is the true first, preceding the US George H. Doran edition (1919). Identify the first issue by the rear advertisements rather than any single textual misprint. No book-club issue. Later impressions are distinguished by changes to the rear advertisement leaves.
• The Trembling of a Leaf — 1921 · George H. DoranTrue first is the New York George H. Doran edition, issued September 1921 (3000 copies), preceding the English edition. Identified by the publisher's GHD monogram on both the title and copyright pages; this device was first used on a Maugham book here, and later impressions lack it. Contains the story 'Rain' (Miss Thompson). US Doran (New York, September 1921) is the true first; the UK Heinemann edition followed in October 1921 and was bound from American sheets. The GHD monogram is the key identifying point. No book-club issue.
• On a Chinese Screen — 1922 · George H. DoranTrue first is the New York George H. Doran edition of 1922 (about 2000 copies), a collection of China travel sketches. The English Heinemann edition was printed from stereotype plates made from the American type, with a title-page reset in America, and followed about a month later. US Doran (1922) is the true first, preceding the UK Heinemann edition (1922) by roughly a month; the Heinemann issue derives from the American plates (Toole Stott A29). No book-club issue.
• The Painted Veil — 1925 · George H. DoranTrue first is the New York George H. Doran edition, issued 20 March 1925. The first issue carries the imaginary colony name 'Tching-Yen' (e.g. on page 16); a later issue substitutes 'Hong-Kong' and adds a publisher's device and a small letter on the copyright page. The name change stems from libel threats over the original Hong Kong setting. US Doran (20 March 1925) precedes the UK Heinemann edition (23 April 1925). The libel-driven place-name was most disruptive to the English edition, which required cancels and a reissue; for the American first, the 'Tching-Yen' reading marks the earlier issue. Later issues read 'Hong-Kong' in place of 'Tching-Yen' and add a copyright-page device and letter.
• The Casuarina Tree — 1926 · William HeinemannTrue first is the William Heinemann, London edition, published 2 September 1926, a collection of six Malayan stories, catalogued Stott A34. Bound in dark blue cloth with Maugham's Moorish device stamped in black to the front board and gilt lettering to the front board and spine. The scarce first-issue pictorial dust jacket carries a wraparound island scene and the printed price to the spine, which should be present. UK Heinemann (2 September 1926) is the true first, preceding the US George H. Doran edition (17 September 1926). No book-club issue; the Doran US printing is a distinct later state, not a first.
• Ashenden, or The British Agent — 1928 · William HeinemannTrue 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. UK Heinemann (March 1928) is the true first, preceding the US Doubleday Doran edition (1928) by about a day. No book-club issue. A second Heinemann impression appeared the same year; collectors distinguish the first impression.
• Cakes and Ale — 1930 · William HeinemannFirst edition published by Heinemann in September 1930, full title 'Cakes and Ale: or, The Skeleton in the Cupboard'. The recognized first-state point is the missing letter 't' in the word 'won't' on page 147; per Stott's bibliography both the missing-'t' state and the corrected state occur within the first printing and were issued without established precedence, so neither commands priority. There was no signed…. UK Heinemann is the true first (September 1930). The US Doubleday, Doran edition followed in 1930 and states 'First Edition' on the copyright page. The signed limited edition of 1000 copies illustrated by Graham Sutherland is a later 1954 edition, not a point on the 1930 first. The two page-147 text states of the 1930 first carry no precedence per Stott.
• The Gentleman in the Parlour — 1930 · William HeinemannFirst edition, first printing, published by Heinemann in 1930 with the subtitle 'A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong'. Issued in black cloth blocked in gilt with a dragon design to the front board and a pagoda design to the spine. A travel narrative of Southeast Asia. UK Heinemann is the true first; the US Doubleday, Doran edition followed in 1930. No book-club issue. A signed limited issue exists alongside the trade edition.
• First Person Singular — 1931 · Doubleday, DoranThe US Doubleday, Doran edition, titled 'Six Stories Written in the First Person Singular' (Garden City, 1931), is the true first and precedes the UK Heinemann edition (titled 'First Person Singular') by roughly two weeks. The US first collates x, 299 pp.; the UK Heinemann states 'First Published 1931'. The collection contains six stories: Virtue, The Round Dozen, The Human Element, Jane, The Alien Corn, and The…. US Doubleday, Doran precedes UK Heinemann by about two weeks, making the American edition the true first. Note the US title differs: 'Six Stories Written in the First Person Singular'. No book-club issue.
• The Narrow Corner — 1932 · William HeinemannFirst edition, first printing, published by Heinemann (London) in 1932, a novel set in the Malay Archipelago; Stott A44a. The binding is blue cloth stamped in black and gilt, with lettering to the upper board and spine and the Heinemann windmill device stamped on the rear panel. First-state dust jacket carries the printed the printed price and should be unclipped. The US Doubleday, Doran edition is Stott A44b. UK Heinemann is the true first (Stott A44a), preceding the US Doubleday, Doran edition (Stott A44b), both 1932. Distinguish the trade edition from any signed/inscribed copies; no separate book-club issue is a point.
• Ah King — 1933 · William HeinemannFirst 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. UK Heinemann (September 1933) precedes the US Doubleday, Doran edition (8 November 1933). The Heinemann signed limited is 175 numbered copies; distinguish it from the ordinary trade first.
• Don Fernando — 1935 · William HeinemannFirst edition, full title 'Don Fernando: or Variations on Some Spanish Themes', published by Heinemann in 1935 (268 pp.); the US Doubleday, Doran edition (1935, 307 pp.) is designated 'First American'. A reflective work on Spain in the Golden Age. UK Heinemann is the true first; the US Doubleday, Doran 'First American' followed in 1935. A later revised text appeared in the Collected/Heinemann edition (around 1950, described as 'new and completely revised'); the revised text differs from the 1935 first.
• Cosmopolitans — 1936 · Doubleday DoranCollection of very short stories. The US Doubleday Doran edition (Garden City, 1936) is the true first; dealer descriptions citing the Stott Maugham bibliography note it preceded the UK Heinemann edition by roughly a week. US Doubleday Doran is the true first; UK Heinemann followed in 1936. No book-club issue noted.
• Theatre — 1937 · Doubleday DoranNovel. Contrary to the original record, the US Doubleday Doran edition is the true first: per the Stott bibliography and dealer descriptions, the American edition preceded the UK Heinemann edition by about three weeks. Both appeared in 1937. US Doubleday Doran is the true first; UK Heinemann (1937) followed about three weeks later. No book-club issue noted.
• The Summing Up — 1938 · William HeinemannAutobiographical and aesthetic memoir. The UK William Heinemann edition of 1938 is the standard true first; its copyright page (verso of the title leaf) states 'First published 1938,' and the book is bound in cloth stamped in gilt on the spine, issued in a printed dust jacket. The US Doubleday, Doran edition also appeared in 1938 in black cloth stamped in gilt on the spine and front panel, with the price printed…. UK Heinemann is the true first; the US Doubleday, Doran edition followed in 1938. Both are dated 1938, so the Heinemann 'First published 1938' verso statement and the Heinemann imprint distinguish the priority issue. No book-club issue noted.
• Christmas Holiday — 1939 · William HeinemannNovel, first printing. The UK William Heinemann edition (London, 1939) is the standard true first, bound in publisher's blue cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, in the original blue, turquoise and white pictorial dust jacket with the printed price present on an unaltered example. The US Doubleday, Doran edition (Garden City, 1939) followed; it is bound in black cloth with gilt spine lettering and a red…. UK Heinemann is the generally cited true first, with British publication in 1939 preceding the American Doubleday Doran edition, which was reviewed in October 1939. A US Literary Guild issue also appeared in 1939; it is a separate club printing and not the Heinemann first.
• The Mixture as Before — 1940 · William HeinemannCollection of ten short stories. First printing. The UK William Heinemann edition (London, 1940) is the standard true first, bound in blue publisher's cloth lettered in gilt and black with Maugham's device (the Moorish sign against the evil eye) to the front board, and issued in the original printed dust jacket. The US Doubleday, Doran edition also appeared in 1940, in black cloth with the beehive/device motif to…. UK Heinemann is the cited true first; US Doubleday, Doran followed in 1940, so the two are effectively concurrent 1940 issues with the London Heinemann given precedence. No book-club issue noted for the true first.
• Up at the Villa — 1941 · Doubleday DoranNovella. The US Doubleday, Doran edition is the true first: sources indicate it preceded the UK Heinemann edition by about a month, both appearing in 1941. The Doubleday first is bound in black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with the Maugham 'moon and hand' device blind-stamped on the front board, top edges tinted and fore-edges deckled, in a printed dust jacket that should retain its flap price. The UK…. US Doubleday, Doran is the true first; UK Heinemann (1941) followed roughly a month later. The two are readily told apart by binding: black cloth with the blind-stamped Maugham device (US) versus blue cloth (UK). No book-club issue noted for the true first.
• The Hour Before the Dawn — 1942 · Doubleday, DoranFirst edition published by Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, New York, 1942, in black cloth. This American edition is the only contemporary trade edition; there was no British trade edition at all. The wartime propaganda novel was commissioned by the British Ministry of Information. The US Doubleday, Doran edition of 1942 is the true and only first edition. Maugham disliked the book and successfully prevented its publication in England, so no contemporary UK trade edition exists. No book-club issue noted for the first appearance.
• The Razor's Edge — 1944 · Doubleday, DoranFirst trade edition published by Doubleday, Doran in April 1944, preceding the UK Heinemann edition by roughly two months. First-printing points on the copyright page: copyright 1943, 1944 by The McCall Company and 1944 by W. Somerset Maugham, the wartime production-compliance emblem, and the imprint 'Printed in the United States at The Country Life Press, Garden City, N.Y.' Black cloth, [vi], 343 pp. A signed,…. US Doubleday, Doran is the true first; UK Heinemann followed in 1944. The signed limited edition of 750 copies is a separate premium issue. Numerous later book-club printings exist; verify the McCall copyright wording and Country Life Press imprint to distinguish the true first.
• Then and Now — 1946 · Doubleday & Co.Historical novel about Machiavelli. Both the US Doubleday & Co. edition and the UK William Heinemann edition appeared in 1946. The US Doubleday printing is widely catalogued as the first American edition. Both the US Doubleday and UK Heinemann editions are dated 1946. Reliable sources do not give firm month-level publication dates, so international precedence between the two is not firmly established; the US Doubleday edition is the standard American first. No book-club issue noted for the first appearance.
• Creatures of Circumstance — 1947 · William HeinemannFirst edition of this collection of short stories, published by William Heinemann in London in 1947, preceding the Doubleday first American edition of the same year. Issued in publisher's red cloth boards lettered and decorated in silver on the spine and front board, and collating to 310 pages. The first-state dust jacket carries a red patterned design with a dark red title field to the front panel and spine…. The London Heinemann printing is the true first; the Doubleday US edition (1947) is the first American edition and follows it. No book-club issue is noted for the first appearance.
• Catalina — 1948 · William HeinemannFirst edition of Maugham's last novel, William Heinemann, London, 1948 (256 pp.; Stott A67a), bound in red cloth lettered in silver on front and spine. The dust jacket was illustrated by Gordon Nicoll and carries the printed price on the flap (unclipped). A second impression followed later the same year, so first-state binding and the absence of any reprint notice are the key points. UK Heinemann is the true first, issued roughly two months before the US Doubleday edition of 1948 (vii, 275 pp.). No book-club issue noted for the first appearance.
• A Writer's Notebook — 1949 · William HeinemannPublished in 1949 in both London (William Heinemann) and New York (Doubleday & Co.). Each publisher issued an ordinary trade edition and a signed, numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies. Per the Stott bibliography, the Heinemann limited edition (blue cloth, vellum spine, leather label, top edge gilt) was issued simultaneously with but printed after the Heinemann trade edition. Both UK Heinemann and US Doubleday editions are dated 1949; reliable sources do not firmly fix international precedence, so the Heinemann edition is best described as the British first rather than a confirmed world first. Each has a separate signed limited issue of 1,000 copies. Distinguish the ordinary trade edition from the signed, numbered limited of 1,000 copies; the limited was printed after the trade edition at Heinemann.

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