The points of issue
First printing of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition. A Jeeves and Bertie Wooster novel. UK Jenkins (9 September 1949) precedes the US Didier edition (29 November 1949).
Is this the true first?
UK Herbert Jenkins is the true first; the US Didier edition followed in 1949.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue affecting the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Mating Season a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition. A Jeeves and Bertie Wooster novel. UK Jenkins (9 September 1949) precedes the US Didier edition (29 November 1949).
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 Herbert Jenkins is the true first; the US Didier edition followed in 1949.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue affecting the true first.
I have a first edition of The Mating Season — 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.