The points of issue
First major Howard collection from Arkham House; edition of 3,004 copies, black cloth gilt-lettered on the spine, dust jacket by Hannes Bok carrying the printed price unclipped. Single printing. Collects twenty-three stories and a poem with appreciations by E. Hoffmann Price and H.P. Lovecraft.
Is this the true first?
The 3,004-copy 1946 Arkham printing is the true first omnibus of Howard's weird fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition exists; a genuine 1946 Arkham copy is the first. Beware ex-library copies and later facsimile dust jackets.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Skull-Face and Others a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First major Howard collection from Arkham House; edition of 3,004 copies, black cloth gilt-lettered on the spine, dust jacket by Hannes Bok carrying the printed price unclipped. Single printing. Collects twenty-three stories and a poem with appreciations by E. Hoffmann Price and H.P. Lovecraft.
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. The 3,004-copy 1946 Arkham printing is the true first omnibus of Howard's weird fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition exists; a genuine 1946 Arkham copy is the first. Beware ex-library copies and later facsimile dust jackets.
I have a first edition of Skull-Face and Others — 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.