The points of issue
First edition, first printing: copyright page reads 'First published in September 1938' with no later printing noted. Bound in beige buckram-backed terracotta/red boards with the spine stamped in red. First-issue dust jacket has a wraparound illustration by Elmer Hader, lettered in black and blue. About 8,000 copies.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Heinemann edition of 1939.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club for the first issue; later printings add a printing statement to the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Long Valley a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing: copyright page reads 'First published in September 1938' with no later printing noted. Bound in beige buckram-backed terracotta/red boards with the spine stamped in red. First-issue dust jacket has a wraparound illustration by Elmer Hader, lettered in black and blue. About 8,000 copies.
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. True US first; precedes the UK Heinemann edition of 1939.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club for the first issue; later printings add a printing statement to the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Long Valley — 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.