# Is "Room at the Top" by John Braine a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Room at the Top by John Braine (Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1957) is identified by: First edition published by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1957 — Braine's first novel — in the publisher's green cloth with gilt spine lettering, issued in a pictorial dust jacket designed by John Minton and printed in blue, yellow and black, priced at the front flap. Eyre & Spottiswoode (London) 1957 is the true first and precedes the Houghton Mifflin (Boston) 1957 first American edition; both appeared in 1957 and both are collected, with London holding priority.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition published by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1957 — Braine's first novel — in the publisher's green cloth with gilt spine lettering, issued in a pictorial dust jacket designed by John Minton and printed in blue, yellow and black, priced at the front flap
- The scarce first-issue point is a publisher's promotional wraparound band (yellow), easily lost; copies retaining it are especially sought
- Copyright page bears the Eyre & Spottiswoode 1957 imprint with no later-impression statement
- Publisher imprint reads Eyre & Spottiswoode
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Braine |
| Publisher | Eyre & Spottiswoode |
| Year | 1957 |
| True first | American edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition published by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1957 — Braine's first novel — in the publisher's green cloth with gilt spine… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition published by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1957 — Braine's first novel — in the publisher's green cloth with gilt spine lettering, issued in a pictorial dust jacket designed by John Minton and printed in blue, yellow and black, priced at the front flap. The scarce first-issue point is a publisher's promotional wraparound band (yellow), easily lost; copies retaining it are especially sought. Copyright page bears the Eyre & Spottiswoode 1957 imprint with no later-impression statement.

## Is this the true first?
Eyre & Spottiswoode (London) 1957 is the true first and precedes the Houghton Mifflin (Boston) 1957 first American edition; both appeared in 1957 and both are collected, with London holding priority. The US edition is a separate first American (blue-grey boards, spine stamped red, 301 pp.).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A UK Reprint Society/World Books book-club edition and later Eyre & Spottiswoode impressions followed; a book-club copy lacks the flap price and the wraparound band and often carries a Reprint Society notice. Confirm the 1957 imprint, the priced jacket, and — ideally — the promotional band.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Room at the Top* by John Braine a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/room-at-the-top
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.