The points of issue
Hogarth Press 1927. First printing has the misprint on the dedication page and the Vanessa Bell jacket. UK first precedes US Harcourt Brace 1927. Blue cloth, paper label / Bell-designed jacket.
Is this the true first?
Hogarth London 1927 is the true first. The American Harcourt Brace 1927 is the first US edition. The original Vanessa Bell dust jacket is essential to a collectible copy.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints and US editions are told apart by imprint, the absence of the Bell jacket, and resetting; later Hogarth impressions are noted on the verso.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of To the Lighthouse a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hogarth Press 1927. First printing has the misprint on the dedication page and the Vanessa Bell jacket. UK first precedes US Harcourt Brace 1927. Blue cloth, paper label / Bell-designed jacket.
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. Hogarth London 1927 is the true first. The American Harcourt Brace 1927 is the first US edition. The original Vanessa Bell dust jacket is essential to a collectible copy.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints and US editions are told apart by imprint, the absence of the Bell jacket, and resetting; later Hogarth impressions are noted on the verso.
I have a first edition of To the Lighthouse — 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.