The points of issue
Chapman & Hall London 1928, Waugh's first novel. First issue includes Waugh's own illustrations and the subtitle 'An Illustrated Novelette.' Some early printings were censored; the first issue retains certain passages. Pictorial jacket and cloth.
Is this the true first?
Chapman & Hall London 1928 is the true first; the US Doubleday Doran 1929 is the first US. The author's illustrations are integral to the first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions and US edition distinguished by imprint and date; reprints often omit or alter the original illustration suite.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Decline and Fall a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Chapman & Hall London 1928, Waugh's first novel. First issue includes Waugh's own illustrations and the subtitle 'An Illustrated Novelette.' Some early printings were censored; the first issue retains certain passages. Pictorial jacket and cloth.
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. Chapman & Hall London 1928 is the true first; the US Doubleday Doran 1929 is the first US. The author's illustrations are integral to the first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions and US edition distinguished by imprint and date; reprints often omit or alter the original illustration suite.
I have a first edition of Decline and Fall — 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.