Look in any large out-of-print book store and it is not
unlikely that you will find a copy of this title.
Sometimes a rather nice copy, in fact, listed by the
bookseller as a first edition.

There have been several book clubs that have offered Nevil Shute
titles through the years. There is one book club that has provided
books that were, for all practical purposes, almost identical to the
first edition Morrow printings in appearance and quality. I am
referring, of course, to The Book Of The Month Club. As
mentioned in some of my other "Zeon's Collecting Tips"
descriptions, there are several titles that the BOMC offered which
have often been mistakened as first editions by numerous well
intended (and some not so well intended) bookdealers.

I have had a few well respected Shute book collectors tell me that the
1st edition of Ordeal was exactly like the BOMC edition with the only
difference being that the 1st edition had the price printed on the
inside flap of the dust jacket. Until I have a little more evidence, I
could not in good conscience say for sure.

Of all of the books I have inspected, when comparing the BOMC
edition with a first edition title, there have always been at least one
reliable distinction between the two.... that being the price shown on
the dust jacket flap. I have seen a large number of Ordeal books thus
far, but unfortunately for me, I have never seen one that shows the
price printed on the inside flap of the dust jacket. This is not to
suggest that they do not exist, because I suspect that they do.
However, when identifying first editon books, assumptions can be
costly and imprudent.

It is my hope ,in the future, that I will be able to gather some
substancial information on this most confusing edition so that I can
provide you with an accurate description of a first edition of the
book, Ordeal.

For more information regarding this and other Nevil Shute Morrow
editions, click on our basic tips link below.