The points of issue
First printing in blue cloth lettered in gilt on spine and upper board with the author's gilt-stamped device. 3,000 copies printed; unsold sheets were remaindered to The Times Book Club, which reissued the book with a new binding and title page, so the true first carries the Heinemann title page and binding.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; note the later Times Book Club remainder reissue with a substituted binding and title leaf.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Merry-Go-Round a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing in blue cloth lettered in gilt on spine and upper board with the author's gilt-stamped device. 3,000 copies printed; unsold sheets were remaindered to The Times Book Club, which reissued the book with a new binding and title page, so the true first carries the Heinemann title page and binding.
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 Heinemann is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; note the later Times Book Club remainder reissue with a substituted binding and title leaf.
I have a first edition of The Merry-Go-Round — 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.