# Is "Journey in the Dark" by Martin Flavin a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Journey in the Dark by Martin Flavin (Harper & Brothers, 1943) is identified by: 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. US Harper 1943 true first, confirmed by the Harper date code I-S (September 1943) on the copyright page.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Brothers
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Martin Flavin |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers |
| Year | 1943 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 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… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Journey in the Dark* by Martin Flavin a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/journey-in-the-dark
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.