# Is "Swing, Brother, Swing (US: A Wreath for Rivera)" by Ngaio Marsh a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Swing, Brother, Swing (US: A Wreath for Rivera) by Ngaio Marsh (Collins, 1949) is identified by: An Inspector Alleyn mystery. Both 1949 editions are recognized firsts under their respective titles; clear precedence between the UK Swing, Brother, Swing and the US A Wreath for Rivera is not established (the author's bibliography lists Boston first).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- An Inspector Alleyn mystery
- Published in 1949 under two titles: Swing, Brother, Swing by Collins in London and A Wreath for Rivera by Little, Brown in Boston
- The two 1949 editions are effectively simultaneous, so the variant title is the reliable identification point rather than a firm precedence
- Publisher imprint reads Collins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ngaio Marsh |
| Publisher | Collins |
| Year | 1949 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | An Inspector Alleyn mystery |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
An Inspector Alleyn mystery. Published in 1949 under two titles: Swing, Brother, Swing by Collins in London and A Wreath for Rivera by Little, Brown in Boston. The two 1949 editions are effectively simultaneous, so the variant title is the reliable identification point rather than a firm precedence.

## Is this the true first?
Both 1949 editions are recognized firsts under their respective titles; clear precedence between the UK Swing, Brother, Swing and the US A Wreath for Rivera is not established (the author's bibliography lists Boston first).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints and book-club printings follow the first editions.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Swing, Brother, Swing (US: A Wreath for Rivera)* by Ngaio Marsh a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/swing-brother-swing-us-a-wreath-for-rivera
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.