The points of issue
First printing has 'Published February, 1926' on the copyright page with the Scribner's seal. Bound in green cloth with the title in blind on the upper board and stamped in gilt on the spine. The collecting point for the first printing is undamaged type on pages 38, 90, and 248. The dust jacket is brown with a cover image by Cleon printed in green and black. Contains 'The Rich Boy' and 'Winter Dreams,' among others.
Is this the true first?
True US first. No separate UK first thus of particular note for this title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later printings show battered/damaged type on pages 38, 90, and 248.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of All the Sad Young Men a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 'Published February, 1926' on the copyright page with the Scribner's seal. Bound in green cloth with the title in blind on the upper board and stamped in gilt on the spine. The collecting point for the first printing is undamaged type on pages 38, 90, and 248. The dust jacket is brown with a cover image by Cleon printed in green and black. Contains 'The Rich Boy' and 'Winter Dreams,' among others.
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. No separate UK first thus of particular note for this title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Later printings show battered/damaged type on pages 38, 90, and 248.
I have a first edition of All the Sad Young Men — 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.