The points of issue
Gollancz, London, 1938 first edition; black cloth, gilt spine lettering, in Gollancz's typographic dust jacket (no pictorial art) with the 8/6 net price on the spine. A separate Special Presentation Edition limited to 200 copies (so designated on the title page and jacket, in a cream/off-white jacket printed in magenta and black) was issued roughly one month ahead of the trade publication.
Is this the true first?
UK Gollancz 1938 is the true first; the US (Doubleday Doran) edition follows. The 200-copy Special Presentation issue precedes the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later reprints exist; clipped or facsimile jackets are common, so confirm the 8/6 price and check the verso for Gollancz reprint notices.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rebecca a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Gollancz, London, 1938 first edition; black cloth, gilt spine lettering, in Gollancz's typographic dust jacket (no pictorial art) with the 8/6 net price on the spine. A separate Special Presentation Edition limited to 200 copies (so designated on the title page and jacket, in a cream/off-white jacket printed in magenta and black) was issued roughly one month ahead of the trade publication.
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 Gollancz 1938 is the true first; the US (Doubleday Doran) edition follows. The 200-copy Special Presentation issue precedes the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club and later reprints exist; clipped or facsimile jackets are common, so confirm the 8/6 price and check the verso for Gollancz reprint notices.
I have a first edition of Rebecca — 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.