The points of issue
First edition is a signed limited issue of 350 numbered copies (300 for sale, 50 reserved for the author), signed by Waugh, in gilt-stamped red cloth over beveled boards with top edge gilt and untrimmed edges, with decorations partly by the author. Dystopian satirical novella; 49 to 51 pages.
Is this the true first?
UK Chapman & Hall is the true first. The genuine first is the numbered, signed limitation of 350 copies; a later 1953 trade printing without the limitation followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
First edition issued only as the 350-copy signed limitation; a later unlimited printing exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Love Among the Ruins a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition is a signed limited issue of 350 numbered copies (300 for sale, 50 reserved for the author), signed by Waugh, in gilt-stamped red cloth over beveled boards with top edge gilt and untrimmed edges, with decorations partly by the author. Dystopian satirical novella; 49 to 51 pages.
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 Chapman & Hall is the true first. The genuine first is the numbered, signed limitation of 350 copies; a later 1953 trade printing without the limitation followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
First edition issued only as the 350-copy signed limitation; a later unlimited printing exists.
I have a first edition of Love Among the Ruins — 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.