The points of issue
The true first is the US edition titled Their Mutual Child, published by Boni & Liveright, New York, on 5 August 1919. The UK edition under the title The Coming of Bill (Herbert Jenkins, London) did not appear until 1 July 1920.
Is this the true first?
US Boni & Liveright 'Their Mutual Child' (1919) precedes the UK Jenkins 'The Coming of Bill' (1920) by nearly a year. The title differs between markets; the US title is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Differing US and UK titles for the same work. No book-club issue of the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Coming of Bill a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first is the US edition titled Their Mutual Child, published by Boni & Liveright, New York, on 5 August 1919. The UK edition under the title The Coming of Bill (Herbert Jenkins, London) did not appear until 1 July 1920.
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. US Boni & Liveright 'Their Mutual Child' (1919) precedes the UK Jenkins 'The Coming of Bill' (1920) by nearly a year. The title differs between markets; the US title is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Differing US and UK titles for the same work. No book-club issue of the first edition.
I have a first edition of The Coming of Bill — 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.