The points of issue
Gnome Press first hardcover edition, 1950, titled 'Conan the Conqueror'. Copyright page with Gnome Press imprint and no later printings stated. Dust jacket art; first state has the original Gnome Press price on the jacket flap. This was the first Conan story in hardcover.
Is this the true first?
Gnome Press 1950 is the true first hardcover Conan book. The original magazine appearance ('The Hour of the Dragon', Weird Tales, 1935-36 serialization) predates it but the book first is the Gnome Press. The 1950s Gnome Conan series volumes are each scarce firsts.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Ace/Lancer paperbacks and the 1960s revivals are reprints, not the Gnome first. Any paperback is a reprint; the Gnome Press hardcover with 1950 imprint is the collectible first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Conan the Conqueror (The Hour of the Dragon) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Gnome Press first hardcover edition, 1950, titled 'Conan the Conqueror'. Copyright page with Gnome Press imprint and no later printings stated. Dust jacket art; first state has the original Gnome Press price on the jacket flap. This was the first Conan story in hardcover.
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. Gnome Press 1950 is the true first hardcover Conan book. The original magazine appearance ('The Hour of the Dragon', Weird Tales, 1935-36 serialization) predates it but the book first is the Gnome Press. The 1950s Gnome Conan series volumes are each scarce firsts.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Ace/Lancer paperbacks and the 1960s revivals are reprints, not the Gnome first. Any paperback is a reprint; the Gnome Press hardcover with 1950 imprint is the collectible first.
I have a first edition of Conan the Conqueror (The Hour of the Dragon) — 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.