High Sierra

US Knopf (New York) 1940 is the true first edition; the census claim is confirmed. No separately issued British edition preceding or contemporaneous with the Knopf printing was located, so there is no UK-vs-US precedence contest for this title. Note that Knopf carried a London imprint line in this period, which can cause catalogue entries to read "New York and London" for the same 1940 sheets — that is not evidence of a distinct earlier English edition. Later paperback and film-tie-in appearances (the 1941 Raoul Walsh film) are reprints, not firsts, and any post-1940 hardcover reissue is a "first thus" trap.