The points of issue
First printing of this slim 'entertainment' (about 140 pages), in dark blue boards lettered in gilt, in a blue and yellow pictorial dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
Heinemann London 1955 is the true first edition; the US Viking edition followed in 1957.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club issue for the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Loser Takes All a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of this slim 'entertainment' (about 140 pages), in dark blue boards lettered in gilt, in a blue and yellow pictorial 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. Heinemann London 1955 is the true first edition; the US Viking edition followed in 1957.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club issue for the first edition.
I have a first edition of Loser Takes All — 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.