The points of issue
First printing carries no printing designation on the verso of the title page. Biography of the eccentric Newburyport merchant, illustrated by Philip Kappel.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Minton, Balch & Company, New York, 1925). Later revised and reissued as 'Timothy Dexter Revisited' in 1960.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Subsequent printings are explicitly marked 'Second Printing,' 'Third Printing,' and so on; the first carries no such statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lord Timothy Dexter of Newburyport, Mass. a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries no printing designation on the verso of the title page. Biography of the eccentric Newburyport merchant, illustrated by Philip Kappel.
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 first edition (Minton, Balch & Company, New York, 1925). Later revised and reissued as 'Timothy Dexter Revisited' in 1960.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Subsequent printings are explicitly marked 'Second Printing,' 'Third Printing,' and so on; the first carries no such statement.
I have a first edition of Lord Timothy Dexter of Newburyport, Mass. — 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.