The points of issue
First printing; revised and expanded from Nineteen Stories (1947): two stories dropped ('The Lottery Ticket' and 'The Other Side of the Border') and four added ('The Hint of an Explanation,' 'The Blue Film,' 'Special Duties,' 'The Destructors').
Is this the true first?
Heinemann London 1954 is the true first edition of this collection; the first US edition was Viking 1962. A first-thus assembly.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints and book-club printings exist; the true first is the original Heinemann printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Twenty-One Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing; revised and expanded from Nineteen Stories (1947): two stories dropped ('The Lottery Ticket' and 'The Other Side of the Border') and four added ('The Hint of an Explanation,' 'The Blue Film,' 'Special Duties,' 'The Destructors').
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. Heinemann London 1954 is the true first edition of this collection; the first US edition was Viking 1962. A first-thus assembly.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reprints and book-club printings exist; the true first is the original Heinemann printing.
I have a first edition of Twenty-One Stories — 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.