The points of issue
First printing of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition. UK Jenkins (18 April 1951) precedes the US Doubleday edition (11 October 1951).
Is this the true first?
UK Herbert Jenkins is the true first; the US Doubleday edition followed in 1951.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue affecting the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Old Reliable a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the UK Herbert Jenkins edition. UK Jenkins (18 April 1951) precedes the US Doubleday edition (11 October 1951).
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 Doubleday edition followed in 1951.
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 Old Reliable — 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.