The points of issue
US Viking edition (1957) precedes the UK Heinemann edition (1958). A play in three acts. Note: the third act differs between the two editions; the American first prints the version produced in New York in 1957, and the British edition carries Greene's later, revised third act.
Is this the true first?
Viking New York 1957 is the true first edition; the UK Heinemann edition followed in 1958. Confirmed as a US-precedence title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Potting Shed a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Viking edition (1957) precedes the UK Heinemann edition (1958). A play in three acts. Note: the third act differs between the two editions; the American first prints the version produced in New York in 1957, and the British edition carries Greene's later, revised third act.
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. Viking New York 1957 is the true first edition; the UK Heinemann edition followed in 1958. Confirmed as a US-precedence title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first edition.
I have a first edition of The Potting Shed — 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.