The points of issue
The first printing is identified by the text point Lovely Pearl on the first line of page 19. Publisher's blue cloth stamped in gilt. First-issue jacket (art by F. M. Rines) carries the printed price on the front flap and no later-printing slug. Pages often show faint vertical streaks from a printer malfunction common to this title.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown 1937 true first, confirmed by the Lovely Pearl reading on the first line of page 19.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry a printing statement; reprints are clearly marked.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Late George Apley a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first printing is identified by the text point Lovely Pearl on the first line of page 19. Publisher's blue cloth stamped in gilt. First-issue jacket (art by F. M. Rines) carries the printed price on the front flap and no later-printing slug. Pages often show faint vertical streaks from a printer malfunction common to this title.
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 Little, Brown 1937 true first, confirmed by the Lovely Pearl reading on the first line of page 19.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry a printing statement; reprints are clearly marked.
I have a first edition of The Late George Apley — 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.