The points of issue
First edition, first printing in maroon cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, viii plus 300 pages; the first impression was a small printing (about 1,200 copies). Greene's third novel, suppressed and disowned by the author and not reprinted in his lifetime, making the first edition scarce.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first; the US Doubleday, Doran edition follows in 1932.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition was issued.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rumour at Nightfall a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing in maroon cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, viii plus 300 pages; the first impression was a small printing (about 1,200 copies). Greene's third novel, suppressed and disowned by the author and not reprinted in his lifetime, making the first edition scarce.
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 is the true first; the US Doubleday, Doran edition follows in 1932.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition was issued.
I have a first edition of Rumour at Nightfall — 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.