The points of issue
Seven volumes published 1948 through 1957, publisher's cloth. First printings carry the Scribner capital 'A' on the copyright page of each volume; later printings lack it.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner is the true first, seven volumes, 1948-1957. Volume seven (1957) was completed after Freeman's death by John Alexander Carroll and Mary Wells Ashworth from his research. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1958, posthumously.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Verify the Scribner capital 'A' on the copyright page of each of the seven volumes; uniform first printings are required for a true first set, and mixed-printing sets are common given the long publication span.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of George Washington (biography) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Seven volumes published 1948 through 1957, publisher's cloth. First printings carry the Scribner capital 'A' on the copyright page of each volume; later printings lack it.
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 is the true first, seven volumes, 1948-1957. Volume seven (1957) was completed after Freeman's death by John Alexander Carroll and Mary Wells Ashworth from his research. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1958, posthumously.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Verify the Scribner capital 'A' on the copyright page of each of the seven volumes; uniform first printings are required for a true first set, and mixed-printing sets are common given the long publication span.
I have a first edition of George Washington (biography) — 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.