The points of issue
First printing of Maugham's Andalusia travel sketches, published January 1905 in an edition of 1,250 copies, with a photogravure frontispiece of the Madonna under a tissue guard.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann 1905 is the true first; the US Knopf edition (1920) is a later, revised printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Land of the Blessed Virgin a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of Maugham's Andalusia travel sketches, published January 1905 in an edition of 1,250 copies, with a photogravure frontispiece of the Madonna under a tissue guard.
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 Heinemann 1905 is the true first; the US Knopf edition (1920) is a later, revised printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of The Land of the Blessed Virgin — 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.