The points of issue
London: Michael Joseph, 1950. States 'First published … 1950'; original sepia/brown cloth, spine lettered in yellow, 256 pages. Pictorial dust jacket priced 9s6d in sterling. Lessing's debut novel. The UK Michael Joseph precedes the US Thomas Y. Crowell 1950 edition.
Is this the true first?
The true first is the UK Michael Joseph 1950 edition (Lessing's debut), scarce in jacket; the US Crowell edition is a later first-thus. Note that a 'second impression before publication' exists, so confirm first-impression status, not just the 1950 date.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No club edition of note; primary pitfalls are a later impression (including the pre-publication second impression) or the US Crowell edition offered as the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Grass Is Singing a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: London: Michael Joseph, 1950. States 'First published … 1950'; original sepia/brown cloth, spine lettered in yellow, 256 pages. Pictorial dust jacket priced 9s6d in sterling. Lessing's debut novel. The UK Michael Joseph precedes the US Thomas Y. Crowell 1950 edition.
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. The true first is the UK Michael Joseph 1950 edition (Lessing's debut), scarce in jacket; the US Crowell edition is a later first-thus. Note that a 'second impression before publication' exists, so confirm first-impression status, not just the 1950 date.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No club edition of note; primary pitfalls are a later impression (including the pre-publication second impression) or the US Crowell edition offered as the first.
I have a first edition of The Grass Is Singing — 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.