The points of issue
Huxley's first published volume of fiction (the short-story collection 'Limbo: Six Stories and a Play'), preceding Crome Yellow. UK Chatto & Windus 1920 is the first issue; a US George H. Doran edition also appeared in 1920.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus 1920 is the true first; US George H. Doran 1920 follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Limbo a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Huxley's first published volume of fiction (the short-story collection 'Limbo: Six Stories and a Play'), preceding Crome Yellow. UK Chatto & Windus 1920 is the first issue; a US George H. Doran edition also appeared in 1920.
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 Chatto & Windus 1920 is the true first; US George H. Doran 1920 follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Limbo — 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.