The points of issue
First edition, 1955, published in London by Chatto & Windus and in New York by Harper & Brothers; the US Harper printing carries a 'First edition' statement on the copyright page. Both editions are dated 1955.
Is this the true first?
Both the London (Chatto & Windus) and New York (Harper & Brothers) editions appeared in 1955 and a firm priority is not established; the UK edition cannot be asserted as the unambiguous true first over the US edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue of the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Genius and the Goddess a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, 1955, published in London by Chatto & Windus and in New York by Harper & Brothers; the US Harper printing carries a 'First edition' statement on the copyright page. Both editions are dated 1955.
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. Both the London (Chatto & Windus) and New York (Harper & Brothers) editions appeared in 1955 and a firm priority is not established; the UK edition cannot be asserted as the unambiguous true first over the US edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue of the true first.
I have a first edition of The Genius and the Goddess — 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.