# Is "Helena" by Evelyn Waugh a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Helena by Evelyn Waugh (Chapman & Hall, 1950) is identified by: First printing, in navy cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with dust jacket. UK Chapman & Hall is the true first (October 1950); the US Little, Brown edition followed in 1950.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing, in navy cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with dust jacket
- Historical novel, Waugh's personal favorite among his works
- A large-paper signed issue of about 50 copies on handmade paper, specially bound, was also produced and given as presentation copies
- Publisher imprint reads Chapman & Hall
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Evelyn Waugh |
| Publisher | Chapman & Hall |
| Year | 1950 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing, in navy cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing, in navy cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with dust jacket. Historical novel, Waugh's personal favorite among his works. A large-paper signed issue of about 50 copies on handmade paper, specially bound, was also produced and given as presentation copies.

## Is this the true first?
UK Chapman & Hall is the true first (October 1950); the US Little, Brown edition followed in 1950.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club printings appeared later.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Helena* by Evelyn Waugh a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/helena
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.