The points of issue
First edition, published August 1947 by Collins in the Britain in Pictures series. A slim illustrated volume of about 48 pages with eight full-page colour plates and additional black-and-white illustrations by artists including Ardizzone, Laura Knight, L. S. Lowry, Henry Moore, John Minton and Topolski.
Is this the true first?
UK Collins August 1947 is the true first; there was no contemporary US edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Britain in Pictures series title; no book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The English People a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, published August 1947 by Collins in the Britain in Pictures series. A slim illustrated volume of about 48 pages with eight full-page colour plates and additional black-and-white illustrations by artists including Ardizzone, Laura Knight, L. S. Lowry, Henry Moore, John Minton and Topolski.
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 Collins August 1947 is the true first; there was no contemporary US edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Britain in Pictures series title; no book-club issue.
I have a first edition of The English People — 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.