The points of issue
First edition, Harcourt, Brace and Company, February 1960; first edition stated on the copyright page; teal cloth, dust jacket. Collection assembled for the US market.
Is this the true first?
US Harcourt Brace true first for this collection; no earlier UK edition of this gathering.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Essays also appear in other collections; this 1960 gathering is the first. Later printings are identified on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The World's Last Night and Other Essays a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, Harcourt, Brace and Company, February 1960; first edition stated on the copyright page; teal cloth, dust jacket. Collection assembled for the US market.
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 Harcourt Brace true first for this collection; no earlier UK edition of this gathering.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Essays also appear in other collections; this 1960 gathering is the first. Later printings are identified on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The World's Last Night and Other Essays — 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.