The points of issue
Heinemann London 1940, in orange/red cloth. Wartime production. UK first precedes the US edition, which was retitled 'The Labyrinthine Ways' (Viking, 1940).
Is this the true first?
Heinemann London 1940 is the true first under this title. The first US edition was published as 'The Labyrinthine Ways' (Viking 1940) — a different title for the same book, collectible in its own right.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US 'Labyrinthine Ways' is a distinct title-state, not a reprint; later Heinemann impressions and the Collected Edition are dated/marked accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Power and the Glory a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Heinemann London 1940, in orange/red cloth. Wartime production. UK first precedes the US edition, which was retitled 'The Labyrinthine Ways' (Viking, 1940).
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. Heinemann London 1940 is the true first under this title. The first US edition was published as 'The Labyrinthine Ways' (Viking 1940) — a different title for the same book, collectible in its own right.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US 'Labyrinthine Ways' is a distinct title-state, not a reprint; later Heinemann impressions and the Collected Edition are dated/marked accordingly.
I have a first edition of The Power and the Glory — 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.