The points of issue
First printing on wartime-economy paper, grey mottled cloth boards lettered black to spine, navy-blue top edge; pictorial dust jacket priced 8/- (eight shillings) to the front flap. Dedicated to Randolph Churchill.
Is this the true first?
London Chapman & Hall is the true first (1942). US Little, Brown followed in 1942.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Put Out More Flags a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing on wartime-economy paper, grey mottled cloth boards lettered black to spine, navy-blue top edge; pictorial dust jacket priced 8/- (eight shillings) to the front flap. Dedicated to Randolph Churchill.
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. London Chapman & Hall is the true first (1942). US Little, Brown followed in 1942.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Put Out More Flags — 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.