The points of issue
First edition, first printing, 1939, in publisher's cloth with the spine lettered yellow and red, in the illustrated dust jacket priced 12/6. China reportage written with W. H. Auden, illustrated with photographic plates and a folding map at the rear. Bloomfield A20a.
Is this the true first?
UK Faber & Faber is the true first; the US Random House edition followed in 1939. The work is a collaboration with W. H. Auden, catalogued here under Isherwood.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Journey to a War a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, 1939, in publisher's cloth with the spine lettered yellow and red, in the illustrated dust jacket priced 12/6. China reportage written with W. H. Auden, illustrated with photographic plates and a folding map at the rear. Bloomfield A20a.
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. UK Faber & Faber is the true first; the US Random House edition followed in 1939. The work is a collaboration with W. H. Auden, catalogued here under Isherwood.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Journey to a War — 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.