The points of issue
First printing has the Scribner seal with the letter A on the copyright page. Bound in black cloth stamped in gilt. The earliest dust jacket has yellow (not orange) on the spine panel and bears the printed price. Published September 7, 1950.
Is this the true first?
True US first edition; precedes the 1950 UK Cape edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Watch for the Book-of-the-Month Club issue: it lacks the A and seal, has a blind-stamp on the rear board, and carries an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Across the River and Into the Trees a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the Scribner seal with the letter A on the copyright page. Bound in black cloth stamped in gilt. The earliest dust jacket has yellow (not orange) on the spine panel and bears the printed price. Published September 7, 1950.
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 edition; precedes the 1950 UK Cape edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Watch for the Book-of-the-Month Club issue: it lacks the A and seal, has a blind-stamp on the rear board, and carries an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Across the River and Into the Trees — 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.