The points of issue
UK Collins first edition, 1920, in publisher's red cloth lettered in black; the author's first book and a Haycraft-Queen cornerstone. It was issued with a dust wrapper. The Collins Crime Club imprint did not exist until 1930, so no genuine 1920 first carries Crime Club branding.
Is this the true first?
The UK Collins 1920 is the true first; the US Thomas Seltzer edition (1924) follows four years later. Any copy bearing the Collins Crime Club imprint is a 1930s-or-later reprint.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Crime Club reissues and later paperbacks are reprints. The 1920 Collins first is scarce.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Cask a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Collins first edition, 1920, in publisher's red cloth lettered in black; the author's first book and a Haycraft-Queen cornerstone. It was issued with a dust wrapper. The Collins Crime Club imprint did not exist until 1930, so no genuine 1920 first carries Crime Club branding.
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 Collins 1920 is the true first; the US Thomas Seltzer edition (1924) follows four years later. Any copy bearing the Collins Crime Club imprint is a 1930s-or-later reprint.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Crime Club reissues and later paperbacks are reprints. The 1920 Collins first is scarce.
I have a first edition of The Cask — 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.