The points of issue
True first is the US Little, Brown printing, with the copyright-page statement Published August, 1938 and no later-printing notice. This is the fourth Mr. Moto novel; the original binding is green cloth lettered in red on spine and front cover.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown edition (1938) is the true first; the first British edition followed from Robert Hale in 1939.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are reprints, not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mr. Moto Is So Sorry a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the US Little, Brown printing, with the copyright-page statement Published August, 1938 and no later-printing notice. This is the fourth Mr. Moto novel; the original binding is green cloth lettered in red on spine and front cover.
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 Little, Brown edition (1938) is the true first; the first British edition followed from Robert Hale in 1939.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings are reprints, not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Mr. Moto Is So Sorry — 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.