The points of issue
L'Amour's first full-length novel under his own name, first published in England by World's Work (Kingswood) in 1950. Identify by the World's Work imprint, the 1950 date, and a UK hardcover with dust jacket and no later-impression statement. The novel did not appear in the US until decades later, so the UK hardcover precedes any American edition.
Is this the true first?
The 1950 World's Work UK hardcover is the true first edition of L'Amour's first novel, a key and often-overlooked high spot. The 1977 Bantam US paperback is only a first thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue of note; common copies are the much later Bantam paperback. The collectible is the 1950 UK World's Work hardcover with its jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Westward the Tide a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: L'Amour's first full-length novel under his own name, first published in England by World's Work (Kingswood) in 1950. Identify by the World's Work imprint, the 1950 date, and a UK hardcover with dust jacket and no later-impression statement. The novel did not appear in the US until decades later, so the UK hardcover precedes any American edition.
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 1950 World's Work UK hardcover is the true first edition of L'Amour's first novel, a key and often-overlooked high spot. The 1977 Bantam US paperback is only a first thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue of note; common copies are the much later Bantam paperback. The collectible is the 1950 UK World's Work hardcover with its jacket.
I have a first edition of Westward the Tide — 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.