The points of issue
True first: privately printed in Florence, 1928, limited to 1,000 numbered copies signed by Lawrence, in mulberry/terracotta paper-covered boards with the phoenix device on the front cover and a white paper spine label. Printed by the Tipografia Giuntina under the direction of Florentine bookseller Giuseppe (Pino) Orioli and issued by subscription. The unexpurgated text; signed and numbered on the limitation page.
Is this the true first?
The 1928 Florence private printing of 1,000 signed copies is the true first. The 1929 Paris printing and various piracies are later or unauthorized; the first unexpurgated UK trade edition came only in 1960 (Penguin, after the obscenity trial) and is a distinct first thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Numerous 1928-29 piracies imitate the Florence first; the genuine first is signed, numbered to 1,000, with the phoenix device and Giuntina/Orioli origin. The 1960 Penguin trial edition is a separately collected book.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first: privately printed in Florence, 1928, limited to 1,000 numbered copies signed by Lawrence, in mulberry/terracotta paper-covered boards with the phoenix device on the front cover and a white paper spine label. Printed by the Tipografia Giuntina under the direction of Florentine bookseller Giuseppe (Pino) Orioli and issued by subscription. The unexpurgated text; signed and numbered on the limitation page.
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. The 1928 Florence private printing of 1,000 signed copies is the true first. The 1929 Paris printing and various piracies are later or unauthorized; the first unexpurgated UK trade edition came only in 1960 (Penguin, after the obscenity trial) and is a distinct first thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Numerous 1928-29 piracies imitate the Florence first; the genuine first is signed, numbered to 1,000, with the phoenix device and Giuntina/Orioli origin. The 1960 Penguin trial edition is a separately collected book.
I have a first edition of Lady Chatterley's Lover — 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.