The points of issue
London Grant Richards 1914, red cloth. The genuine first has the publisher's device and is distinguished from the 1916 US Huebsch edition. Notoriously delayed (set in type 1906) but not published until 1914 after years of printer's objections.
Is this the true first?
Grant Richards London 1914 is the true first, preceding B.W. Huebsch New York 1916 (the first US, printed from English sheets/plates). UK precedes US.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Modern Library and later reprints are clearly marked; any edition dated after 1914 or bearing a US imprint is not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dubliners a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: London Grant Richards 1914, red cloth. The genuine first has the publisher's device and is distinguished from the 1916 US Huebsch edition. Notoriously delayed (set in type 1906) but not published until 1914 after years of printer's objections.
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. Grant Richards London 1914 is the true first, preceding B.W. Huebsch New York 1916 (the first US, printed from English sheets/plates). UK precedes US.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Modern Library and later reprints are clearly marked; any edition dated after 1914 or bearing a US imprint is not the first.
I have a first edition of Dubliners — 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.