The points of issue
First edition, first printing, New York: William Morrow & Company, 1929. Identified by the absence of any later-printing notice on the copyright page. Bright yellow cloth stamped in black, patterned red endpapers.
Is this the true first?
US first (Morrow, 1929). A UK Longmans, Green edition followed; sources disagree on whether it appeared in 1929 or 1930, so a precise UK year is not asserted.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition for this title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Son of Perdition a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, New York: William Morrow & Company, 1929. Identified by the absence of any later-printing notice on the copyright page. Bright yellow cloth stamped in black, patterned red endpapers.
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. US first (Morrow, 1929). A UK Longmans, Green edition followed; sources disagree on whether it appeared in 1929 or 1930, so a precise UK year is not asserted.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition for this title.
I have a first edition of The Son of Perdition — 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.