The points of issue
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1934. Published 25 October 1934 in an edition of about 2,000 copies. This US edition is the true first; for libel reasons Gollancz declined the manuscript and the English edition was delayed and altered.
Is this the true first?
Unusually for Orwell, the US Harper edition (October 1934) is the true first, not the UK. Orwell himself called the Harper edition 'the true first edition'. The Gollancz English edition (24 June 1935) is textually revised, with character and place names altered to avoid libel, and is a 'first English edition' but second overall.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The two editions differ in text, not merely imprint; the 1935 English first is collectible but does not precede the US edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Burmese Days a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: New York: Harper & Brothers, 1934. Published 25 October 1934 in an edition of about 2,000 copies. This US edition is the true first; for libel reasons Gollancz declined the manuscript and the English edition was delayed and altered.
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. Unusually for Orwell, the US Harper edition (October 1934) is the true first, not the UK. Orwell himself called the Harper edition 'the true first edition'. The Gollancz English edition (24 June 1935) is textually revised, with character and place names altered to avoid libel, and is a 'first Englis
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The two editions differ in text, not merely imprint; the 1935 English first is collectible but does not precede the US edition.
I have a first edition of Burmese Days — 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.