The points of issue
First edition, Cassell, London, 1935. Durrell's first novel. It was published in the ordinary way but sold poorly; most of the stock was later destroyed during the Blitz, and Durrell declined to allow it to be reprinted, leaving very few surviving copies. A notable rarity.
Is this the true first?
UK Cassell 1935 is the true first; there was no contemporary US edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue. Among the scarcest 20th-century firsts, owing to wartime loss of stock and Durrell's refusal to reprint rather than any suppression at publication.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pied Piper of Lovers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, Cassell, London, 1935. Durrell's first novel. It was published in the ordinary way but sold poorly; most of the stock was later destroyed during the Blitz, and Durrell declined to allow it to be reprinted, leaving very few surviving copies. A notable rarity.
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 Cassell 1935 is the true first; there was no contemporary US edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue. Among the scarcest 20th-century firsts, owing to wartime loss of stock and Durrell's refusal to reprint rather than any suppression at publication.
I have a first edition of Pied Piper of Lovers — 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.