The points of issue
First edition, first impression, The Bodley Head, London, 1967. A collection of twelve stories, 188 pages, green cloth with gilt spine lettering and a dust jacket designed by Stephen Russ.
Is this the true first?
UK Bodley Head is the true first; the US Viking edition followed in 1967. A signed, numbered limited edition of 500 specially bound copies was also issued in 1967 alongside the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of May We Borrow Your Husband? and Other Comedies of the Sexual Life a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first impression, The Bodley Head, London, 1967. A collection of twelve stories, 188 pages, green cloth with gilt spine lettering and a dust jacket designed by Stephen Russ.
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 Bodley Head is the true first; the US Viking edition followed in 1967. A signed, numbered limited edition of 500 specially bound copies was also issued in 1967 alongside the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first edition.
I have a first edition of May We Borrow Your Husband? and Other Comedies of the Sexual Life — 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.