The points of issue
First edition, first printing, Chapman & Hall 1959. Full title-page reads The Life of the Right Reverend Ronald Knox, Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford and Pronotary Apostolic to His Holiness Pope Pius XII. A separate small deluxe issue of 29 copies was printed for presentation by the author.
Is this the true first?
Chapman & Hall (London) is the true first. The US edition from Little, Brown (1959) carries the title Monsignor Ronald Knox.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US edition retitled Monsignor Ronald Knox; no book-club issue precedes the UK first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Life of the Right Reverend Ronald Knox a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, Chapman & Hall 1959. Full title-page reads The Life of the Right Reverend Ronald Knox, Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford and Pronotary Apostolic to His Holiness Pope Pius XII. A separate small deluxe issue of 29 copies was printed for presentation by the author.
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. Chapman & Hall (London) is the true first. The US edition from Little, Brown (1959) carries the title Monsignor Ronald Knox.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US edition retitled Monsignor Ronald Knox; no book-club issue precedes the UK first.
I have a first edition of The Life of the Right Reverend Ronald Knox — 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.