The points of issue
First UK edition, Oxford University Press 1943; originated as the Riddell Memorial Lectures delivered February 1943. Original cloth, dust jacket; no later-impression statement.
Is this the true first?
UK Oxford University Press true first; US Macmillan edition follows in 1947.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Abolition of Man a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, Oxford University Press 1943; originated as the Riddell Memorial Lectures delivered February 1943. Original cloth, dust jacket; no later-impression statement.
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 Oxford University Press true first; US Macmillan edition follows in 1947.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings differ.
I have a first edition of The Abolition of Man — 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.