# Is "Service with a Smile" by P.G. Wodehouse a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Service with a Smile by P.G. Wodehouse (Simon & Schuster, 1961) is identified by: First American edition, first printing, with 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page per Simon & Schuster's practice (McIlvaine A85, Jasen 84). US Simon & Schuster (15 October 1961) is the true first, about ten months ahead of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition (17 August 1962).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First American edition, first printing, with 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page per Simon & Schuster's practice (McIlvaine A85, Jasen 84)
- A Blandings Castle novel featuring Uncle Fred, published 15 October 1961 by Simon & Schuster, New York, preceding the UK Herbert Jenkins edition of 17 August 1962
- Bound in quarter lilac cloth over black paper boards, lettered in white to the spine with a blind-stamped illustration to the upper board
- 218 pages
- The pictorial dust jacket was designed by Paul Bacon and should retain its printed price on the front flap (unclipped)
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | P.G. Wodehouse |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First American edition, first printing, with 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page per Simon & Schuster's practice (McIlvaine A85… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First American edition, first printing, with 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page per Simon & Schuster's practice (McIlvaine A85, Jasen 84). A Blandings Castle novel featuring Uncle Fred, published 15 October 1961 by Simon & Schuster, New York, preceding the UK Herbert Jenkins edition of 17 August 1962. Bound in quarter lilac cloth over black paper boards, lettered in white to the spine with a blind-stamped illustration to the upper board; 218 pages. The pictorial dust jacket was designed by Paul Bacon and should retain its printed price on the front flap (unclipped).

## Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster (15 October 1961) is the true first, about ten months ahead of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition (17 August 1962).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Service with a Smile* by P.G. Wodehouse a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/service-with-a-smile
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.