The points of issue
First issue identified by the first-printing statement 'Published, March, 1929' on the copyright page. Bound in navy blue cloth lettered and framed in orange. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Cape edition of 1929. Lewis won the Nobel Prize in 1930.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not a book-club book. Later printings add additional-printing statements. Signed copies in commerce are signed trade firsts.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dodsworth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First issue identified by the first-printing statement 'Published, March, 1929' on the copyright page. Bound in navy blue cloth lettered and framed in orange. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.
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 Cape edition of 1929. Lewis won the Nobel Prize in 1930.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Not a book-club book. Later printings add additional-printing statements. Signed copies in commerce are signed trade firsts.
I have a first edition of Dodsworth — 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.