The points of issue
First printing, published in London by Methuen on 23 January 1914; a collection of nineteen short stories with no recurring Wodehouse characters.
Is this the true first?
UK Methuen is the true first. The collection had no contemporaneous US book edition; the stories were not gathered for American readers until decades later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Man Upstairs and Other Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, published in London by Methuen on 23 January 1914; a collection of nineteen short stories with no recurring Wodehouse characters.
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. UK Methuen is the true first. The collection had no contemporaneous US book edition; the stories were not gathered for American readers until decades later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of The Man Upstairs and Other Stories — 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.