The points of issue
Two early states exist: a presentation issue of about 950 copies preceding general sale, and the trade first printing with the copyright-page statement Published February, 1941 and no later-printing notice. The trade first is the one most collectors record as the first edition.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown edition (1941) is the true first. The first British edition, from Robert Hale in 1942, was also titled H.M. Pulham, Esquire. The title Gone Tomorrow was only the magazine-serial title used in McCall's, not a separate book title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists, identifiable by the board blind-stamp and the absence of the first-printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of H.M. Pulham, Esquire a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Two early states exist: a presentation issue of about 950 copies preceding general sale, and the trade first printing with the copyright-page statement Published February, 1941 and no later-printing notice. The trade first is the one most collectors record as the first edition.
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 Little, Brown edition (1941) is the true first. The first British edition, from Robert Hale in 1942, was also titled H.M. Pulham, Esquire. The title Gone Tomorrow was only the magazine-serial title used in McCall's, not a separate book title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists, identifiable by the board blind-stamp and the absence of the first-printing statement.
I have a first edition of H.M. Pulham, Esquire — 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.