The points of issue
First printing of Huxley's biography of Father Joseph (full title Grey Eminence: A Study in Religion and Politics). Chatto & Windus, London, 1941.
Is this the true first?
Both the UK Chatto & Windus and the US Harper & Brothers editions are dated 1941; the British edition is generally cited as the first published, with the Harper printing as the first American edition. Exact day-precedence between the two is not crisply documented.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue at first publication.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Grey Eminence a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of Huxley's biography of Father Joseph (full title Grey Eminence: A Study in Religion and Politics). Chatto & Windus, London, 1941.
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. Both the UK Chatto & Windus and the US Harper & Brothers editions are dated 1941; the British edition is generally cited as the first published, with the Harper printing as the first American edition. Exact day-precedence between the two is not crisply documented.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue at first publication.
I have a first edition of Grey Eminence — 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.