The points of issue
The London Jonathan Cape first printing of 1922, illustrated and decorated throughout by Keith Henderson (frontispiece, two-color title-page decoration, decorated endpapers, plates, and tailpieces), in black cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and a design on the front board. Confirm the Cape imprint and the 1922 date with no later printing line.
Is this the true first?
The UK Cape 1922 edition is the true first; the US Boni edition of 1926 is the first American edition. A landmark of heroic fantasy.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition applies; the traps are later reprints (Dutton, and the Ballantine Adult Fantasy paperback). Verify the Cape imprint, 1922 date, and Henderson decorations.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Worm Ouroboros a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The London Jonathan Cape first printing of 1922, illustrated and decorated throughout by Keith Henderson (frontispiece, two-color title-page decoration, decorated endpapers, plates, and tailpieces), in black cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and a design on the front board. Confirm the Cape imprint and the 1922 date with no later printing line.
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. The UK Cape 1922 edition is the true first; the US Boni edition of 1926 is the first American edition. A landmark of heroic fantasy.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition applies; the traps are later reprints (Dutton, and the Ballantine Adult Fantasy paperback). Verify the Cape imprint, 1922 date, and Henderson decorations.
I have a first edition of The Worm Ouroboros — 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.