The points of issue
First edition: Liveright, New York, 1933 (published 8 April 1933). Notorious issue history tied to Liveright's bankruptcy: about 2,200 copies were printed but only roughly 800 were shipped to bookshops before the collapse; copies bearing the Liveright imprint and 1933 date are the first issue. The withheld sheets (about 1,400 copies) were reissued in June 1933 by Harcourt, Brace under their own imprint as the second issue, and the title was remaindered by Greenberg in 1934 as the third issue.
Is this the true first?
The Liveright 1933 issue is the true first; the Harcourt, Brace 1933 reissue (Liveright sheets under the Harcourt imprint) is the second issue, and the Greenberg 1934 remainder is the third. A genuine Liveright-imprint copy is far scarcer.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Check the title-page imprint: Liveright equals first issue; Harcourt, Brace equals second issue; Greenberg equals third. Later editions are obvious reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Miss Lonelyhearts a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition: Liveright, New York, 1933 (published 8 April 1933). Notorious issue history tied to Liveright's bankruptcy: about 2,200 copies were printed but only roughly 800 were shipped to bookshops before the collapse; copies bearing the Liveright imprint and 1933 date are the first issue. The withheld sheets (about 1,400 copies) were reissued in June 1933 by Harcourt, Brace under their own imprint as the second issue, and the title was remaindered by Greenberg in 1934 as the third issue.
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. The Liveright 1933 issue is the true first; the Harcourt, Brace 1933 reissue (Liveright sheets under the Harcourt imprint) is the second issue, and the Greenberg 1934 remainder is the third. A genuine Liveright-imprint copy is far scarcer.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Check the title-page imprint: Liveright equals first issue; Harcourt, Brace equals second issue; Greenberg equals third. Later editions are obvious reprints.
I have a first edition of Miss Lonelyhearts — 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.