The points of issue
First Edition stated on the copyright page. The dust jacket carries the original published retail price on the front flap; an unclipped flap is the desirable state.
Is this the true first?
US first edition; the UK edition followed from Jonathan Cape in 1943.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Book-of-the-Month Club issue carries a blind-stamp to the rear board and lacks the copyright-page First Edition statement; trade reprints likewise omit it.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Just and the Unjust a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Edition stated on the copyright page. The dust jacket carries the original published retail price on the front flap; an unclipped flap is the desirable state.
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. US first edition; the UK edition followed from Jonathan Cape in 1943.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Book-of-the-Month Club issue carries a blind-stamp to the rear board and lacks the copyright-page First Edition statement; trade reprints likewise omit it.
I have a first edition of The Just and the Unjust — 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.