The points of issue
First UK edition, first printing, published 13 September 1904. Wodehouse school story (Wrykyn), the author's third book, with illustrations by T. M. R. Whitwell. First issue carries the two-page terminal advertisements at the rear; original red pictorial cloth lettered in black, blue and yellow. Catalogued McIlvaine A4a.
Is this the true first?
UK A & C Black is the true first; no separate earlier US edition precedes it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Gold Bat a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, first printing, published 13 September 1904. Wodehouse school story (Wrykyn), the author's third book, with illustrations by T. M. R. Whitwell. First issue carries the two-page terminal advertisements at the rear; original red pictorial cloth lettered in black, blue and yellow. Catalogued McIlvaine A4a.
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 A & C Black is the true first; no separate earlier US edition precedes it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of The Gold Bat — 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.