The points of issue
First printing in publisher's cloth. The US Doubleday, Doran edition (8 October 1937) is the true first and precedes the UK Herbert Jenkins edition (11 February 1938).
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday, Doran is the true first edition, ahead of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition by several months into 1938.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A later book-club issue exists; the true first is the 1937 Doubleday, Doran trade printing, not a club reprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Summer Moonshine a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing in publisher's cloth. The US Doubleday, Doran edition (8 October 1937) is the true first and precedes the UK Herbert Jenkins edition (11 February 1938).
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 Doubleday, Doran is the true first edition, ahead of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition by several months into 1938.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A later book-club issue exists; the true first is the 1937 Doubleday, Doran trade printing, not a club reprint.
I have a first edition of Summer Moonshine — 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.