The points of issue
First printing has the 'A' with 1940 imprint and the first-issue dust jacket WITHOUT the photographer's credit ('Photograph by ...') on the rear flap — the credit line was added in a later issue. Some first-issue jackets show the publisher's the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner's 1940 is the true first. The point of issue is the absence of the back-flap photo credit; this is the most-confused Hemingway jacket point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'A' and have blind-stamp; jackets with the photo credit are later issue, not first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the 'A' with 1940 imprint and the first-issue dust jacket WITHOUT the photographer's credit ('Photograph by ...') on the rear flap — the credit line was added in a later issue. Some first-issue jackets show the publisher's the printed price.
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 Scribner's 1940 is the true first. The point of issue is the absence of the back-flap photo credit; this is the most-confused Hemingway jacket point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the 'A' and have blind-stamp; jackets with the photo credit are later issue, not first.
I have a first edition of For Whom the Bell Tolls — 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.