The points of issue
First edition, first impression, published by Heinemann in London in June 1959. A two-act comedy in blue cloth with a printed dust jacket priced 8/6.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first; the US Viking edition followed in 1961.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Complaisant Lover a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first impression, published by Heinemann in London in June 1959. A two-act comedy in blue cloth with a printed dust jacket priced 8/6.
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 Heinemann is the true first; the US Viking edition followed in 1961.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first edition.
I have a first edition of The Complaisant Lover — 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.