The points of issue
First book-form printing, London, Adam & Charles Black, 29 September 1915; reworked from the 1909-1910 serial in The Captain. Blue pictorial cloth, with frontispiece and plates.
Is this the true first?
UK A & C Black is the true first. A US issue (Macmillan, New York) was made later the same year from imported sheets and does not have precedence.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Psmith, Journalist a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First book-form printing, London, Adam & Charles Black, 29 September 1915; reworked from the 1909-1910 serial in The Captain. Blue pictorial cloth, with frontispiece and plates.
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 A & C Black is the true first. A US issue (Macmillan, New York) was made later the same year from imported sheets and does not have precedence.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Psmith, Journalist — 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.