The points of issue
First UK edition, London, Barrie & Jenkins, 29 October 1970. The US first followed from Simon & Schuster on 22 February 1971. Both editions share the same Osbert Lancaster front jacket design and the same Tom Blau rear-panel photograph of Wodehouse walking with a dog.
Is this the true first?
UK Barrie & Jenkins is the true first; the US Simon & Schuster edition of 1971 is later and retains the same title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No separate book-club issue affecting the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Girl in Blue a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, London, Barrie & Jenkins, 29 October 1970. The US first followed from Simon & Schuster on 22 February 1971. Both editions share the same Osbert Lancaster front jacket design and the same Tom Blau rear-panel photograph of Wodehouse walking with a dog.
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 Barrie & Jenkins is the true first; the US Simon & Schuster edition of 1971 is later and retains the same title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No separate book-club issue affecting the true first.
I have a first edition of The Girl in Blue — 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.