The points of issue
Random House first printing carries a stated 'First Printing' on the copyright page; later printings add a printing-history line. An omnibus gathering of Shaw's short fiction, including 'The Girls in Their Summer Dresses' and 'The Eighty-Yard Run.'
Is this the true first?
US Random House first; the Jonathan Cape London edition followed in 1951.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings state the printing history; the first printing does not.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mixed Company: Collected Short Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House first printing carries a stated 'First Printing' on the copyright page; later printings add a printing-history line. An omnibus gathering of Shaw's short fiction, including 'The Girls in Their Summer Dresses' and 'The Eighty-Yard Run.'
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 Random House first; the Jonathan Cape London edition followed in 1951.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings state the printing history; the first printing does not.
I have a first edition of Mixed Company: Collected Short Stories — 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.