The points of issue
London: Heinemann, 1932. 'First published 1932' on the verso. The decisive point is the J.B. Priestley libel issue: Priestley, recognizing the character read as a caricature of him, threatened action, so roughly 13,000 sheets were recalled and cancel leaves substituted. The genuine first (uncorrected) issue retains the original text. The quickest test is on page 82: the uncorrected first issue reads 'Dickens' (line 2) and uses the name 'Savory'; corrected copies change the name to 'Quin Savory' across several pages and replace 'Dickens' with 'Chaucer.'
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first. The US title is 'Orient Express' (Doubleday, 1933), a later and separately titled edition, not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The corrected (second) state carries the substituted cancel leaves, with 'Quin Savory' and 'Chaucer' in place of the original readings; later reprints carry impression statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Stamboul Train a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: London: Heinemann, 1932. 'First published 1932' on the verso. The decisive point is the J.B. Priestley libel issue: Priestley, recognizing the character read as a caricature of him, threatened action, so roughly 13,000 sheets were recalled and cancel leaves substituted. The genuine first (uncorrected) issue retains the original text. The quickest test is on page 82: the uncorrected first issue reads 'Dickens' (line 2) and uses the name 'Savory'; corrected copies change the name to 'Quin Savory' across several pages and replace 'Dickens' with 'Chaucer.'
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 Heinemann is the true first. The US title is 'Orient Express' (Doubleday, 1933), a later and separately titled edition, not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The corrected (second) state carries the substituted cancel leaves, with 'Quin Savory' and 'Chaucer' in place of the original readings; later reprints carry impression statements.
I have a first edition of Stamboul Train — 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.