The points of issue
First edition, first impression, May 1936. A Freetown doctor, P.D. Oakley, sued over the character Pa Oakley; Heinemann withdrew the book and pulped remaining stock, making the first issue scarce. Travel account of Greene's walk through Liberia.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first (May 1936); the US Doubleday Doran edition followed in 1936.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The withdrawn first issue is the key state. The book was not reprinted in the UK until after Greene secured the rights around 1946; it was not simply reissued in 1936.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Journey Without Maps a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first impression, May 1936. A Freetown doctor, P.D. Oakley, sued over the character Pa Oakley; Heinemann withdrew the book and pulped remaining stock, making the first issue scarce. Travel account of Greene's walk through Liberia.
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 Heinemann is the true first (May 1936); the US Doubleday Doran edition followed in 1936.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The withdrawn first issue is the key state. The book was not reprinted in the UK until after Greene secured the rights around 1946; it was not simply reissued in 1936.
I have a first edition of Journey Without Maps — 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.