Animal Farm (1945)

A first impression of Animal Farm is dated May 1945 in the imprint, although the book was not actually published until 17 August 1945. Paper shortages held it back for three months, so the mismatch is a sign of the first impression rather than a mistake.

What to check:

• Imprint: dated May 1945.
• Binding: green cloth.
• Jacket: printed on the back of surplus Searchlight Books jackets under wartime paper rules, so the reverse of the jacket shows another design. Priced 6s on the front flap.

The colour of the Searchlight printing on the reverse varies between copies. Some dealers claim one colour came first, but most say no priority has been established, and we agree.

A second impression of about 10,000 copies followed within weeks, and second impressions are regularly offered as firsts. Check the imprint rather than the jacket. The 1946 Harcourt Brace edition is the American first, a different book with its own value.

The jacket is fragile wartime paper and is often chipped or torn. A bright, complete jacket makes a large difference to value.

Sources: Bauman Rare Books, First and Fine, Antiquarian Auctions and Maggs, following Fenwick's bibliography.