The points of issue
First printing in green cloth from Unwin's six-shilling library, spine lettered in gilt. Maugham's first collection of short stories (six tales). No American edition was published.
Is this the true first?
UK T. Fisher Unwin is the true first; there was no US edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Orientations a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing in green cloth from Unwin's six-shilling library, spine lettered in gilt. Maugham's first collection of short stories (six tales). No American edition was published.
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. UK T. Fisher Unwin is the true first; there was no US edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Orientations — 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.