The points of issue
First US edition, Doubleday Doran, New York, published 9 January 1942, with the pictorial dust jacket designed by Donald McKay. The UK Herbert Jenkins edition did not appear until 27 May 1946.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday Doran is the true first (9 January 1942). The novel was written while Wodehouse was interned in wartime Germany; UK publication was delayed to 1946 amid the controversy over his wartime broadcasts.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Money in the Bank a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US edition, Doubleday Doran, New York, published 9 January 1942, with the pictorial dust jacket designed by Donald McKay. The UK Herbert Jenkins edition did not appear until 27 May 1946.
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 Doubleday Doran is the true first (9 January 1942). The novel was written while Wodehouse was interned in wartime Germany; UK publication was delayed to 1946 amid the controversy over his wartime broadcasts.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Money in the Bank — 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.