The points of issue
True first is the US Little, Brown printing, with the copyright-page publication statement and no later-printing notice. This is the third Mr. Moto novel; the original binding is blue cloth lettered in red.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown edition (1937) is the true first; the first British edition followed from Robert Hale in 1938.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and photoplay-style reprints are reprints, not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Think Fast, Mr. Moto a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the US Little, Brown printing, with the copyright-page publication statement and no later-printing notice. This is the third Mr. Moto novel; the original binding is blue cloth lettered in red.
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 Little, Brown edition (1937) is the true first; the first British edition followed from Robert Hale in 1938.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and photoplay-style reprints are reprints, not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Think Fast, Mr. Moto — 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.