The points of issue
First edition of the novel, in cloth-backed patterned paper boards with gilt-lettered spine and top edge gilt on the limited. A signed limited edition of 200 numbered copies, signed by Huxley on the limitation page, was issued alongside the ordinary trade first; UK Chatto & Windus 1936 precedes the US Harper edition.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus is the true first; the US Harper edition also appeared in 1936. Confirm the Chatto imprint.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue is a point; distinguish the signed limited of 200 from the ordinary trade printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Eyeless in Gaza a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition of the novel, in cloth-backed patterned paper boards with gilt-lettered spine and top edge gilt on the limited. A signed limited edition of 200 numbered copies, signed by Huxley on the limitation page, was issued alongside the ordinary trade first; UK Chatto & Windus 1936 precedes the US Harper edition.
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. UK Chatto & Windus is the true first; the US Harper edition also appeared in 1936. Confirm the Chatto imprint.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue is a point; distinguish the signed limited of 200 from the ordinary trade printing.
I have a first edition of Eyeless in Gaza — 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.