The points of issue
First printing (Bruccoli A6.1.a) has the Scribner seal and reads 'Published September, 1920' on the copyright page. Bound in dark green cloth lettered in gilt on the spine with a blind-stamped front board. First-issue dust jacket with no later-printing notices.
Is this the true first?
Fitzgerald's second book and first story collection; true US first edition. The UK Collins edition (1922) is a separate first thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later printings carry subsequent month or reprinting notices on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Flappers and Philosophers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing (Bruccoli A6.1.a) has the Scribner seal and reads 'Published September, 1920' on the copyright page. Bound in dark green cloth lettered in gilt on the spine with a blind-stamped front board. First-issue dust jacket with no later-printing notices.
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. Fitzgerald's second book and first story collection; true US first edition. The UK Collins edition (1922) is a separate first thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Later printings carry subsequent month or reprinting notices on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Flappers and Philosophers — 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.