The points of issue
First printing identified by the Scribner seal on the copyright page and matching 1927 dates, with the perfect (unbroken) numeral '3' on page 3. Bound in black cloth with gilt-lettered paper labels on the front board and spine; top edge stained yellow. Published October 1927.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the 1928 UK Jonathan Cape edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club. The 1927 first printing predates Scribner's 'A' system, so there is no 'A' on the copyright page; the diagnostic point is the perfect '3' on page 3 together with the Scribner seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Men Without Women a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by the Scribner seal on the copyright page and matching 1927 dates, with the perfect (unbroken) numeral '3' on page 3. Bound in black cloth with gilt-lettered paper labels on the front board and spine; top edge stained yellow. Published October 1927.
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 1928 UK Jonathan Cape edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club. The 1927 first printing predates Scribner's 'A' system, so there is no 'A' on the copyright page; the diagnostic point is the perfect '3' on page 3 together with the Scribner seal.
I have a first edition of Men Without Women — 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.