The points of issue
True first is the Random House issue. The copyright page of the first printing carries a positive 'First Printing' (Random House) statement; later printings add a printing-history line. This was Shaw's first book of fiction and his first story collection, and it contains 'The Girls in Their Summer Dresses.' Octavo in maroon cloth.
Is this the true first?
US Random House first; the Jonathan Cape London edition followed in 1940.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Random House printings state the printing history on the copyright page; the first printing does not.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sailor Off the Bremen and Other Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the Random House issue. The copyright page of the first printing carries a positive 'First Printing' (Random House) statement; later printings add a printing-history line. This was Shaw's first book of fiction and his first story collection, and it contains 'The Girls in Their Summer Dresses.' Octavo in maroon cloth.
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. US Random House first; the Jonathan Cape London edition followed in 1940.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Random House printings state the printing history on the copyright page; the first printing does not.
I have a first edition of Sailor Off the Bremen and Other Stories — 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.