The points of issue
First printing of Wodehouse's unfinished final novel, published posthumously with his working notes and plot outlines, edited by Richard Usborne. The title was supplied by the publisher, not Wodehouse.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus is the true first, published 17 November 1977. The US Simon & Schuster edition followed in 1978, not 1977.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Posthumous publication; no book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sunset at Blandings a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of Wodehouse's unfinished final novel, published posthumously with his working notes and plot outlines, edited by Richard Usborne. The title was supplied by the publisher, not Wodehouse.
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 Chatto & Windus is the true first, published 17 November 1977. The US Simon & Schuster edition followed in 1978, not 1977.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Posthumous publication; no book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Sunset at Blandings — 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.