The points of issue
First Edition stated on the copyright page. Published August 26, 1957, in blue cloth with gilt lettering.
Is this the true first?
US first edition; the UK edition followed from Longmans in 1957.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Book-of-the-Month Club issue carries a blind-stamp or dot to the board and no flap price; the trade first edition states First Edition on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of By Love Possessed a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Edition stated on the copyright page. Published August 26, 1957, in blue cloth with gilt lettering.
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. US first edition; the UK edition followed from Longmans in 1957.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Book-of-the-Month Club issue carries a blind-stamp or dot to the board and no flap price; the trade first edition states First Edition on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of By Love Possessed — 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.