The points of issue
Heinemann London 1951, in the typical Heinemann cloth with windmill device. Jacket priced. UK first precedes US Viking 1951.
Is this the true first?
Heinemann London 1951 is the true first; Viking New York 1951 is the first US.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions noted on verso; book club and US reprints distinguished by imprint and jacket pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The End of the Affair a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Heinemann London 1951, in the typical Heinemann cloth with windmill device. Jacket priced. UK first precedes US Viking 1951.
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. Heinemann London 1951 is the true first; Viking New York 1951 is the first US.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions noted on verso; book club and US reprints distinguished by imprint and jacket pricing.
I have a first edition of The End of the Affair — 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.