The points of issue
Four volumes, publisher's cloth. First printings carry the Scribner capital 'A' on the copyright page of each volume; later printings lack it. Volumes one and two appeared October 1934, volumes three and four April 1935.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner (New York and London) is the true first: four volumes, volumes I-II in 1934 and volumes III-IV in 1935. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1935.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A true first set must be uniform first printings; verify the Scribner capital 'A' on the copyright page of each of the four volumes. Mixed-printing sets are common.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of R.E. Lee: A Biography a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Four volumes, publisher's cloth. First printings carry the Scribner capital 'A' on the copyright page of each volume; later printings lack it. Volumes one and two appeared October 1934, volumes three and four April 1935.
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 Scribner (New York and London) is the true first: four volumes, volumes I-II in 1934 and volumes III-IV in 1935. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1935.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A true first set must be uniform first printings; verify the Scribner capital 'A' on the copyright page of each of the four volumes. Mixed-printing sets are common.
I have a first edition of R.E. Lee: A Biography — 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.