The points of issue
First UK edition, London, Barrie & Jenkins, 15 October 1973, published on Wodehouse's 92nd birthday. The US first followed on 28 August 1974 from Simon & Schuster under the same title.
Is this the true first?
UK Barrie & Jenkins is the true first and precedes the US Simon & Schuster edition of 1974; the title is unchanged between the two.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No separate book-club issue affecting the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bachelors Anonymous a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, London, Barrie & Jenkins, 15 October 1973, published on Wodehouse's 92nd birthday. The US first followed on 28 August 1974 from Simon & Schuster under the same title.
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 Simon & Schuster edition of 1974; the title is unchanged between the two.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No separate book-club issue affecting the true first.
I have a first edition of Bachelors Anonymous — 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.