The points of issue
First printing, copyright page stating 'First published 1969' (published 2 October 1969). Green cloth with pictorial dust jacket illustrated by Stephen Russ; jacket priced 30s net. Comic novel.
Is this the true first?
The Bodley Head London edition is the true first; a Viking (US) edition followed in 1970.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club (Reprint Society / Book Club Associates) printings appeared later and are not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Travels with My Aunt a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, copyright page stating 'First published 1969' (published 2 October 1969). Green cloth with pictorial dust jacket illustrated by Stephen Russ; jacket priced 30s net. Comic novel.
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 Bodley Head London edition is the true first; a Viking (US) edition followed in 1970.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club (Reprint Society / Book Club Associates) printings appeared later and are not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Travels with My Aunt — 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.