The points of issue
First edition published by Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, New York, 1942, in black cloth. This American edition is the only contemporary trade edition; there was no British trade edition at all. The wartime propaganda novel was commissioned by the British Ministry of Information.
Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday, Doran edition of 1942 is the true and only first edition. Maugham disliked the book and successfully prevented its publication in England, so no contemporary UK trade edition exists.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first appearance.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Hour Before the Dawn a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published by Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, New York, 1942, in black cloth. This American edition is the only contemporary trade edition; there was no British trade edition at all. The wartime propaganda novel was commissioned by the British Ministry of Information.
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 US Doubleday, Doran edition of 1942 is the true and only first edition. Maugham disliked the book and successfully prevented its publication in England, so no contemporary UK trade edition exists.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first appearance.
I have a first edition of The Hour Before the Dawn — 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.