The points of issue
Chatto & Windus London 1954, Murdoch's first novel. Publisher's cloth with dust jacket; jacket priced. UK first precedes US Viking 1954.
Is this the true first?
Chatto & Windus London 1954 is the true first; Viking New York 1954 is the first US. As her debut it is the cornerstone Murdoch title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions noted on verso; US edition distinguished by imprint and jacket pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Under the Net a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Chatto & Windus London 1954, Murdoch's first novel. Publisher's cloth with dust jacket; jacket priced. UK first precedes US Viking 1954.
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. Chatto & Windus London 1954 is the true first; Viking New York 1954 is the first US. As her debut it is the cornerstone Murdoch title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions noted on verso; US edition distinguished by imprint and jacket pricing.
I have a first edition of Under the Net — 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.