The points of issue
Original oatmeal cloth ruled in red and lettered in black, with yapp (overhanging) fore-edges; issued without a dust wrapper. Four plates by James McBryde (he died in 1904 having completed only these four drawings, and James declined further illustration). A recognized first-impression text point is 'art museum' at page 55. An inserted 16-page publisher's catalogue dated November 1904 is cited by dealers as a first-issue point.
Is this the true first?
The UK Edward Arnold 1904 edition is the true first. The 1905 second impression and later reprints, the US editions, and the 1931 Collected Ghost Stories are separate, later issues.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions and reprints lack the yapp-edge oatmeal cloth and the four McBryde plates; absence of the plates indicates a reprint. Confirm the 'art museum' reading at page 55 and the first-impression binding.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Original oatmeal cloth ruled in red and lettered in black, with yapp (overhanging) fore-edges; issued without a dust wrapper. Four plates by James McBryde (he died in 1904 having completed only these four drawings, and James declined further illustration). A recognized first-impression text point is 'art museum' at page 55. An inserted 16-page publisher's catalogue dated November 1904 is cited by dealers as a first-issue point.
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 Edward Arnold 1904 edition is the true first. The 1905 second impression and later reprints, the US editions, and the 1931 Collected Ghost Stories are separate, later issues.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions and reprints lack the yapp-edge oatmeal cloth and the four McBryde plates; absence of the plates indicates a reprint. Confirm the 'art museum' reading at page 55 and the first-impression binding.
I have a first edition of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary — 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.