The points of issue
The US edition under the title Three Men and a Maid was published by George H. Doran on 26 April 1922; the UK edition under the title The Girl on the Boat followed from Herbert Jenkins on 15 June 1922. The US Doran issue therefore precedes the UK Jenkins issue by roughly seven weeks.
Is this the true first?
The US Doran printing is the true first edition; the UK Jenkins printing, retitled The Girl on the Boat, is a few weeks later. This reverses the usual Wodehouse pattern where the Jenkins UK issue comes first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US and UK first editions carry different titles. The originally supplied note was ambiguous about precedence; verification confirms the US Doran issue leads.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Three Men and a Maid a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The US edition under the title Three Men and a Maid was published by George H. Doran on 26 April 1922; the UK edition under the title The Girl on the Boat followed from Herbert Jenkins on 15 June 1922. The US Doran issue therefore precedes the UK Jenkins issue by roughly seven weeks.
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 US Doran printing is the true first edition; the UK Jenkins printing, retitled The Girl on the Boat, is a few weeks later. This reverses the usual Wodehouse pattern where the Jenkins UK issue comes first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US and UK first editions carry different titles. The originally supplied note was ambiguous about precedence; verification confirms the US Doran issue leads.
I have a first edition of Three Men and a Maid — 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.