The points of issue
First edition, first printing published November 1937 in an edition of 2,040 copies. Blue cloth boards lettered in black to the spine, in the peach dust jacket printed in green and designed by Richard Kennedy, with the 3/6 price to the front panel and spine. Issued as a separate slim volume; scarce in the jacket.
Is this the true first?
UK Hogarth Press is the true first, issued as a standalone novella. Isherwood later folded the text into the novel Goodbye to Berlin (1939).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; the standalone Hogarth printing is the rarity.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sally Bowles a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing published November 1937 in an edition of 2,040 copies. Blue cloth boards lettered in black to the spine, in the peach dust jacket printed in green and designed by Richard Kennedy, with the 3/6 price to the front panel and spine. Issued as a separate slim volume; scarce in the jacket.
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 Hogarth Press is the true first, issued as a standalone novella. Isherwood later folded the text into the novel Goodbye to Berlin (1939).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; the standalone Hogarth printing is the rarity.
I have a first edition of Sally Bowles — 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.