The points of issue
First printing carries the Harper letter code on the copyright page indicating a 1942 production date, found together with the words FIRST EDITION (the date code on first printings of this title is C-R). Introduction by Richard Wright. Issued in dust jacket priced 2.50.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Harper & Brothers, 1942). A UK edition followed later from Neville Spearman.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Harper retained the words FIRST EDITION on later printings but changed the accompanying letter code to reflect a later production date, so the code (not the words alone) is the reliable point.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Never Come Morning a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the Harper letter code on the copyright page indicating a 1942 production date, found together with the words FIRST EDITION (the date code on first printings of this title is C-R). Introduction by Richard Wright. Issued in dust jacket priced 2.50.
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 (Harper & Brothers, 1942). A UK edition followed later from Neville Spearman.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Harper retained the words FIRST EDITION on later printings but changed the accompanying letter code to reflect a later production date, so the code (not the words alone) is the reliable point.
I have a first edition of Never Come Morning — 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.