The points of issue
Stokes first printings of this period carry no printing statement. The first printing shows 1926 on both the title page and the copyright page with no mention of later printings. First-issue cloth is blind-ruled green lettered in gilt, in a first-issue dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Stokes 1926 is the true first edition (trade). The UK Cape edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Grosset & Dunlap reprints are common and clearly marked. A later Franklin Library leather edition (1977) also exists and is not a first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Early Autumn a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Stokes first printings of this period carry no printing statement. The first printing shows 1926 on both the title page and the copyright page with no mention of later printings. First-issue cloth is blind-ruled green lettered in gilt, in a first-issue dust jacket.
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. US Stokes 1926 is the true first edition (trade). The UK Cape edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Grosset & Dunlap reprints are common and clearly marked. A later Franklin Library leather edition (1977) also exists and is not a first.
I have a first edition of Early Autumn — 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.