The points of issue
First printing of Greene's last novel; dark green boards with gilt lettering and gilt publisher's device to spine, dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey.
Is this the true first?
The UK first is Reinhardt Books in association with Viking, London 1988; Viking issued the US edition and Lester & Orpen Dennys a Canadian edition, all in 1988.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Captain and the Enemy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of Greene's last novel; dark green boards with gilt lettering and gilt publisher's device to spine, dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey.
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. The UK first is Reinhardt Books in association with Viking, London 1988; Viking issued the US edition and Lester & Orpen Dennys a Canadian edition, all in 1988.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.
I have a first edition of The Captain and the Enemy — 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.