The points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Black varnished (glazed) cloth lettered in gilt on the spine; 310pp. Dust jacket priced the printed price. Properly styled "BUtterfield 8" after the telephone exchange.
Is this the true first?
The US Harcourt, Brace printing is the true first; the UK Cresset Press edition follows later (recorded at 1951, not 1936).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints lack the "First Edition" line; a later Grosset & Dunlap photoplay/tie-in reprint exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Butterfield 8 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Black varnished (glazed) cloth lettered in gilt on the spine; 310pp. Dust jacket priced the printed price. Properly styled "BUtterfield 8" after the telephone exchange.
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. The US Harcourt, Brace printing is the true first; the UK Cresset Press edition follows later (recorded at 1951, not 1936).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints lack the "First Edition" line; a later Grosset & Dunlap photoplay/tie-in reprint exists.
I have a first edition of Butterfield 8 — 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.