The points of issue
First printing identified by 'Published March 1935' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing notice. Adventure novel of a porcelain collector and a Chinese warlord.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Little, Brown and Company, Boston, March 1935). The UK edition appeared later and does not have precedence.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are noted on the copyright page; the documented first-printing point is the 'Published March 1935' statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ming Yellow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by 'Published March 1935' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing notice. Adventure novel of a porcelain collector and a Chinese warlord.
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. US first edition (Little, Brown and Company, Boston, March 1935). The UK edition appeared later and does not have precedence.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings are noted on the copyright page; the documented first-printing point is the 'Published March 1935' statement.
I have a first edition of Ming Yellow — 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.