The points of issue
Autobiographical and aesthetic memoir. First printing. The UK Heinemann edition (1938) is the standard true first; the US Doubleday Doran edition also appeared in 1938.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first; US Doubleday Doran followed in 1938.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Summing Up a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Autobiographical and aesthetic memoir. First printing. The UK Heinemann edition (1938) is the standard true first; the US Doubleday Doran edition also appeared in 1938.
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; US Doubleday Doran followed in 1938.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted.
I have a first edition of The Summing Up — 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.