Books

Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1915. First edition. 8vo, 253 plus 2pp. publisher's ads at rear. Publisher's blue cloth with sunning to spine and around edges. Some wear at spine ends and corners. Text block toned, mainly to margins, paperclip indentation to first three leaves with light chip to upper edge of half title. A very good copy. A sound, first edition copy of Buchan's classic mystery-espionage novel, and basis for the Alfred Hitchcock film.  The story, first to feature protagonist, Richard Hannay,  was serialized in All-Story Weekly and Blackwood's Magazine before being published in book form late in 1915.  A Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone that has continued to be quite influential and popular in the genre since its original publication. Hubin pg 55.

The Thirty-Nine Steps is an adventure novel by the Scottish author John Buchan. It first appeared as a serial in Blackwood's Magazine in August and September 1915 before being published in book form in October that year by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh. It is the first of five novels featuring Richard Hannay, an all-action hero with a stiff upper lip and a knack for getting out of sticky situations.

A first edition can be identified by the publisher’s name and address, as they were given on the title page of the first edition. Subsequent impressions were often done by different publishers or included updated addresses. The first edition published by William Blackwood and Sons in 1915 would also not have any mentions of later print runs or editions.