The points of issue
First printing in publisher's orange cloth lettered in black. The UK Herbert Jenkins edition (25 September 1936) is the true first and precedes the US Doubleday, Doran edition (19 November 1936).
Is this the true first?
UK Herbert Jenkins is the true first edition; the US Doubleday, Doran edition followed in November 1936.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition is a point for this title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Laughing Gas a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing in publisher's orange cloth lettered in black. The UK Herbert Jenkins edition (25 September 1936) is the true first and precedes the US Doubleday, Doran edition (19 November 1936).
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 Herbert Jenkins is the true first edition; the US Doubleday, Doran edition followed in November 1936.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition is a point for this title.
I have a first edition of Laughing Gas — 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.