The points of issue
Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1954 first edition (published July 1954). Look for Houghton Mifflin's first-printing convention on the copyright page with no additional-printing or later-date statements, and a priced first-issue dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Houghton Mifflin 1954 is the true first of this foundational historical romance; the UK (Hodder & Stoughton) edition follows as a separate first-in-territory.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition is common (blind-stamp or dot to the rear board, no flap price, thinner boards); the novel has been near-continuously reprinted, so most copies are later.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Katherine a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1954 first edition (published July 1954). Look for Houghton Mifflin's first-printing convention on the copyright page with no additional-printing or later-date statements, and a priced first-issue dust jacket.
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 Houghton Mifflin 1954 is the true first of this foundational historical romance; the UK (Hodder & Stoughton) edition follows as a separate first-in-territory.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition is common (blind-stamp or dot to the rear board, no flap price, thinner boards); the novel has been near-continuously reprinted, so most copies are later.
I have a first edition of Katherine — 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.