The points of issue
First edition, first printing, published by Faber and Faber, London, May 1935. Full title: The Dog Beneath the Skin, or Where is Francis? A Play in Three Acts. A verse play and the first Auden-Isherwood collaboration; the title page credits both W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood, with Auden named first.
Is this the true first?
The Faber and Faber London edition of May 1935 is the true first. The first US edition (Random House, New York, October 1935) followed the same year in grey boards stamped in blue and orange. This is a joint work by W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood, not by Isherwood alone.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Dog Beneath the Skin a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, published by Faber and Faber, London, May 1935. Full title: The Dog Beneath the Skin, or Where is Francis? A Play in Three Acts. A verse play and the first Auden-Isherwood collaboration; the title page credits both W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood, with Auden named first.
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 Faber and Faber London edition of May 1935 is the true first. The first US edition (Random House, New York, October 1935) followed the same year in grey boards stamped in blue and orange. This is a joint work by W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood, not by Isherwood alone.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of The Dog Beneath the Skin — 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.