The points of issue
UK first edition, Methuen, November 1924, blue cloth with gilt. The recognized first-state point is on the contents leaf: in the first state the page number 'ix' is absent, while later states show 'ix' printed. The first-state dust jacket carries the 7/6 price on the spine. A deluxe signed limited issue was also produced.
Is this the true first?
The UK Methuen edition is the true first; the first US edition (Dutton, 1924) follows. This was the debut of Christopher Robin in print and predates the Pooh stories.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry an edition or impression statement on the verso. The US Dutton edition lacks the Methuen imprint. A printed ISBN indicates a modern reprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of When We Were Very Young a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK first edition, Methuen, November 1924, blue cloth with gilt. The recognized first-state point is on the contents leaf: in the first state the page number 'ix' is absent, while later states show 'ix' printed. The first-state dust jacket carries the 7/6 price on the spine. A deluxe signed limited issue was also produced.
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 UK Methuen edition is the true first; the first US edition (Dutton, 1924) follows. This was the debut of Christopher Robin in print and predates the Pooh stories.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry an edition or impression statement on the verso. The US Dutton edition lacks the Methuen imprint. A printed ISBN indicates a modern reprint.
I have a first edition of When We Were Very Young — 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.