The points of issue
Wolfe's first book. First printing carries the Scribner's seal (the publisher's printer's mark) on the copyright page with no notice of later printings; the title page is dated 1929. Bound in dark blue cloth. The dedication to Aline Bernstein ('A.B.') is present. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price and the Doris Ulmann photograph of Wolfe with biography on the rear panel.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Heinemann edition of 1930. The Scribner seal on the copyright page is the definitive first-printing mark for 1929.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club for the true first. The 2000 'O Lost' restored-text edition is a separate publication, not a first of this book.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Look Homeward, Angel a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Wolfe's first book. First printing carries the Scribner's seal (the publisher's printer's mark) on the copyright page with no notice of later printings; the title page is dated 1929. Bound in dark blue cloth. The dedication to Aline Bernstein ('A.B.') is present. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price and the Doris Ulmann photograph of Wolfe with biography on the rear panel.
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. True US first; precedes the UK Heinemann edition of 1930. The Scribner seal on the copyright page is the definitive first-printing mark for 1929.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club for the true first. The 2000 'O Lost' restored-text edition is a separate publication, not a first of this book.
I have a first edition of Look Homeward, Angel — 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.