The points of issue
First printing in publisher's cloth bearing the Coward-McCann imprint, with no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Subtitled a Western novel; the basis for the 1944 MGM film.
Is this the true first?
US first edition. The hardcover Coward-McCann printing precedes the paperback reprints.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Popular Library paperback reprint followed and is not the first edition; the 1944 film tie-in does not change the hardcover's primacy.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Gentle Annie a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing in publisher's cloth bearing the Coward-McCann imprint, with no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Subtitled a Western novel; the basis for the 1944 MGM film.
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. US first edition. The hardcover Coward-McCann printing precedes the paperback reprints.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Popular Library paperback reprint followed and is not the first edition; the 1944 film tie-in does not change the hardcover's primacy.
I have a first edition of Gentle Annie — 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.