The points of issue
The first printing carries the Harper house date code I-S on the last line of the copyright page, where the first letter denotes the month (I equals September) and the second letter denotes the year (S equals 1943); Harper also printed First Edition on the copyright page in this period. Blue cloth with gilt lettering. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Won the 1943 Harper Prize and the 1944 Pulitzer.
Is this the true first?
US Harper 1943 true first, confirmed by the Harper date code I-S (September 1943) on the copyright page.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints carry a later Harper date code or printing statement; reprints are clearly marked.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Journey in the Dark a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first printing carries the Harper house date code I-S on the last line of the copyright page, where the first letter denotes the month (I equals September) and the second letter denotes the year (S equals 1943); Harper also printed First Edition on the copyright page in this period. Blue cloth with gilt lettering. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Won the 1943 Harper Prize and the 1944 Pulitzer.
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 Harper 1943 true first, confirmed by the Harper date code I-S (September 1943) on the copyright page.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints carry a later Harper date code or printing statement; reprints are clearly marked.
I have a first edition of Journey in the Dark — 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.