The points of issue
First edition, first printing published March 1938, blue cloth lettered in black to the spine, in the dust jacket printed in brown and designed by Robert Medley. Subtitled An Education in the Twenties; a semi-autobiographical account of the 1920s.
Is this the true first?
UK Hogarth Press is the true first; the US New Directions edition followed in 1947.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lions and Shadows a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing published March 1938, blue cloth lettered in black to the spine, in the dust jacket printed in brown and designed by Robert Medley. Subtitled An Education in the Twenties; a semi-autobiographical account of the 1920s.
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 Hogarth Press is the true first; the US New Directions edition followed in 1947.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Lions and Shadows — 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.