The points of issue
Bobbs-Merrill bow-tie/torch colophon on the copyright page with no later-printing notation. Tan cloth stamped in gold, with title and author on both spine and front board. First-issue dust jacket designed by George Salter, priced 3.50 on the front flap. Author's first novel.
Is this the true first?
US (Bobbs-Merrill) is the true first; the UK edition (Hamish Hamilton, 1952) follows. Confirm the absence of any later-printing line.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition lacks the publisher's colophon points, is often smaller, and carries a blind stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lie Down in Darkness a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Bobbs-Merrill bow-tie/torch colophon on the copyright page with no later-printing notation. Tan cloth stamped in gold, with title and author on both spine and front board. First-issue dust jacket designed by George Salter, priced 3.50 on the front flap. Author's first novel.
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 (Bobbs-Merrill) is the true first; the UK edition (Hamish Hamilton, 1952) follows. Confirm the absence of any later-printing line.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition lacks the publisher's colophon points, is often smaller, and carries a blind stamp.
I have a first edition of Lie Down in Darkness — 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.