The points of issue
True first: copyright page states 'Published May, 1936' and the dust jacket lists GWTW on the rear panel among the 'Spring' titles (i.e., it is NOT listed at the top of the published list). First-issue jacket has the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Macmillan May 1936 is the true first. The most-relied point is the jacket (book itself is unreliable since later printings also say 'Published May 1936'). A signed copy is exceedingly rare.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The single most important tell: on a first-issue jacket, 'Gone with the Wind' appears in the SECOND column / lower in the list of Macmillan books, not at the head; later-issue and book-club jackets move it up. Book-club copies are blind-stamped.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Gone with the Wind a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first: copyright page states 'Published May, 1936' and the dust jacket lists GWTW on the rear panel among the 'Spring' titles (i.e., it is NOT listed at the top of the published list). First-issue jacket has 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 Macmillan May 1936 is the true first. The most-relied point is the jacket (book itself is unreliable since later printings also say 'Published May 1936'). A signed copy is exceedingly rare.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The single most important tell: on a first-issue jacket, 'Gone with the Wind' appears in the SECOND column / lower in the list of Macmillan books, not at the head; later-issue and book-club jackets move it up. Book-club copies are blind-stamped.
I have a first edition of Gone with the Wind — 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.