# Is "Loser Takes All" by Graham Greene a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Loser Takes All by Graham Greene (William Heinemann, 1955) is identified by: First printing of this slim octavo 'entertainment' of about 140 pages, with "First published 1955" stated on the copyright page. Heinemann London 1955 is the true first edition; the US Viking edition followed in 1957.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing of this slim octavo 'entertainment' of about 140 pages, with "First published 1955" stated on the copyright page
- Bound in dark blue boards lettered in gilt on the front board and spine, and issued in a blue and yellow pictorial dust jacket that should retain the printed price on the flap
- Publisher imprint reads William Heinemann
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Graham Greene |
| Publisher | William Heinemann |
| Year | 1955 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing of this slim octavo 'entertainment' of about 140 pages, with "First published 1955" stated on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First printing of this slim octavo 'entertainment' of about 140 pages, with "First published 1955" stated on the copyright page. Bound in dark blue boards lettered in gilt on the front board and spine, and issued in a blue and yellow pictorial dust jacket that should retain the printed price on the flap.

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Loser Takes All* by Graham Greene a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/loser-takes-all
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.