The points of issue
First printing identified by 'Published [Month] 1933' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing notice. Linked stories of a fictional Massachusetts coastal town.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1933). A later London edition followed in the 1930s.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are noted on the copyright page; identification rests on the 'Published [Month, Year]' statement, as Little, Brown did not print 'First Edition' until about 1940.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Haven's End a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by 'Published [Month] 1933' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing notice. Linked stories of a fictional Massachusetts coastal town.
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 (Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1933). A later London edition followed in the 1930s.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings are noted on the copyright page; identification rests on the 'Published [Month, Year]' statement, as Little, Brown did not print 'First Edition' until about 1940.
I have a first edition of Haven's End — 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.