The points of issue
First printing of Greene's first play (subtitle: A Play in Two Acts), in publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering and pictorial dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
Heinemann London 1953 is the true first edition; the US Viking edition followed in 1954.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Living Room a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of Greene's first play (subtitle: A Play in Two Acts), in publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering and pictorial dust jacket.
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. Heinemann London 1953 is the true first edition; the US Viking edition followed in 1954.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first edition.
I have a first edition of The Living Room — 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.