The points of issue
US L.C. Page (Boston) edition precedes the UK T. Fisher Unwin edition by roughly a month. Maugham's second book and a historical novel. The first issue has two-color (parti-colored) spine lettering; later states show all-black spine lettering.
Is this the true first?
US L.C. Page is the true first, preceding UK Unwin (1898) by about a month.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Making of a Saint a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US L.C. Page (Boston) edition precedes the UK T. Fisher Unwin edition by roughly a month. Maugham's second book and a historical novel. The first issue has two-color (parti-colored) spine lettering; later states show all-black spine lettering.
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 L.C. Page is the true first, preceding UK Unwin (1898) by about a month.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of The Making of a Saint — 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.