The points of issue
Heinemann, London, 1935 first edition — Heyer's first novel set in the Regency period, effectively the founding text of the Regency-romance subgenre. UK cloth with Heinemann device; the verso of the title carries no later reprint statement. The original 1935 dust jacket shows a pugilist illustration on the spine, a feature present only on the first edition.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann 1935 is the true first; the US (Doubleday Doran) edition follows as a separate first-in-territory.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Heinemann reprints reused the front-cover design but dropped the spine pugilist and added reprint statements on the verso; the US edition is not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Regency Buck a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Heinemann, London, 1935 first edition — Heyer's first novel set in the Regency period, effectively the founding text of the Regency-romance subgenre. UK cloth with Heinemann device; the verso of the title carries no later reprint statement. The original 1935 dust jacket shows a pugilist illustration on the spine, a feature present only on the first edition.
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 Heinemann 1935 is the true first; the US (Doubleday Doran) edition follows as a separate first-in-territory.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Heinemann reprints reused the front-cover design but dropped the spine pugilist and added reprint statements on the verso; the US edition is not the true first.
I have a first edition of Regency Buck — 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.