# Is "So Big" by Edna Ferber a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of So Big by Edna Ferber (Doubleday, Page & Company, 1924) is identified by: First printings state 'First Edition' by itself on its own line at the very bottom of the copyright page. US Doubleday, Page 1924 is the true first, identified by the stated 'First Edition' line and the blue cloth binding.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printings state 'First Edition' by itself on its own line at the very bottom of the copyright page
- Binding is blue cloth with a gold-stamped design carrying the title and author on the front
- Two title-page states exist with no established priority: in State 1 the 'Y' in DOUBLEDAY sits below the 'T' in GARDEN CITY, while in State 2 the 'Y' sits below the 'TY' in GARDEN CITY. Title page dated 1924
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday, Page & Company
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edna Ferber |
| Publisher | Doubleday, Page & Company |
| Year | 1924 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printings state 'First Edition' by itself on its own line at the very bottom of the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First printings state 'First Edition' by itself on its own line at the very bottom of the copyright page. Binding is blue cloth with a gold-stamped design carrying the title and author on the front. Two title-page states exist with no established priority: in State 1 the 'Y' in DOUBLEDAY sits below the 'T' in GARDEN CITY, while in State 2 the 'Y' sits below the 'TY' in GARDEN CITY. Title page dated 1924.

## Is this the true first?
US Doubleday, Page 1924 is the true first, identified by the stated 'First Edition' line and the blue cloth binding. The two title-page alignment states are co-equal and neither holds priority.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Grosset & Dunlap photoplay and reprint editions are clearly marked and are later, inexpensive copies.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *So Big* by Edna Ferber a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/so-big
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.