The points of issue
Second U.S.A. volume, published March 1932. Bound in orange cloth, titles stamped in silver on spine and front cover. First printing has no statement of additional printings on the copyright page. First-issue trade dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap (some advance copies lack a price).
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Constable edition of 1932.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club issue for the first. Later printings note additional impressions on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of 1919 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Second U.S.A. volume, published March 1932. Bound in orange cloth, titles stamped in silver on spine and front cover. First printing has no statement of additional printings on the copyright page. First-issue trade dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap (some advance copies lack a price).
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. True US first; precedes the UK Constable edition of 1932.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club issue for the first. Later printings note additional impressions on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of 1919 — 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.