The points of issue
First edition of the anthology with Huxley's own commentaries (full title Texts and Pretexts: An Anthology with Commentaries). Trade first in green cloth, gilt-lettered spine.
Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus is the true first; the US Harper edition followed in 1933. Confirm the 1932 Chatto imprint.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue is a point of issue for the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Texts and Pretexts a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition of the anthology with Huxley's own commentaries (full title Texts and Pretexts: An Anthology with Commentaries). Trade first in green cloth, gilt-lettered spine.
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; the US Harper edition followed in 1933. Confirm the 1932 Chatto imprint.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue is a point of issue for the first.
I have a first edition of Texts and Pretexts — 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.