# Is "Collected Essays" by Graham Greene a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Collected Essays by Graham Greene (The Bodley Head, 1969) is identified by: First printing, copyright page stating 'First published 1969'. The Bodley Head London edition is the true first; a Viking (US) edition followed the same year.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing, copyright page stating 'First published 1969'
- Green cloth, gilt spine lettering, top edge stained pink, dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey
- Collects nearly eighty essays and reviews; first-thus collection
- Publisher imprint reads The Bodley Head
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Graham Greene |
| Publisher | The Bodley Head |
| Year | 1969 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing, copyright page stating 'First published 1969' |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First printing, copyright page stating 'First published 1969'. Green cloth, gilt spine lettering, top edge stained pink, dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey. Collects nearly eighty essays and reviews; first-thus collection.

## Is this the true first?
The Bodley Head London edition is the true first; a Viking (US) edition followed the same year.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Collected Essays* by Graham Greene a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/collected-essays
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.