The points of issue
First printing of Huxley's volume of pacifist and ethical essays (full title an enquiry into the nature of ideals and into the methods employed for their realization). Issued by Chatto & Windus, London, in 1937.
Is this the true first?
The UK Chatto & Windus edition is the established first edition; Harper & Brothers issued the American edition the same year (1937), often described as concurrent but cataloged as the first American edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue at first publication.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ends and Means a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of Huxley's volume of pacifist and ethical essays (full title an enquiry into the nature of ideals and into the methods employed for their realization). Issued by Chatto & Windus, London, in 1937.
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. The UK Chatto & Windus edition is the established first edition; Harper & Brothers issued the American edition the same year (1937), often described as concurrent but cataloged as the first American edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue at first publication.
I have a first edition of Ends and Means — 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.