The points of issue
Novella. Contrary to the original record, the US Doubleday Doran edition is the true first: sources indicate it preceded the UK Heinemann edition by about a month. Both appeared in 1941.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday Doran is the true first; UK Heinemann (1941) followed roughly a month later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Up at the Villa a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Novella. Contrary to the original record, the US Doubleday Doran edition is the true first: sources indicate it preceded the UK Heinemann edition by about a month. Both appeared in 1941.
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. US Doubleday Doran is the true first; UK Heinemann (1941) followed roughly a month later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted.
I have a first edition of Up at the Villa — 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.