The points of issue
First printing, The Viking Press, 1938. Short-story collection of roughly 16 stories, about 206 pages, in cloth with the original dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US first edition; UK edition followed (Secker, 1938).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reprints exist; the true first is the 1938 Viking issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Southways a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, The Viking Press, 1938. Short-story collection of roughly 16 stories, about 206 pages, in cloth with the original dust 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. US first edition; UK edition followed (Secker, 1938).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and reprints exist; the true first is the 1938 Viking issue.
I have a first edition of Southways — 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.