The points of issue
Duckworth London 1913. First issue in the publisher's blue/green cloth with Duckworth imprint and the '1913' date; 16-page catalogue of advertisements often present. UK first precedes US Mitchell Kennerley 1913.
Is this the true first?
Duckworth London 1913 is the true first; Mitchell Kennerley New York 1913 is the first US. The UK first is the standard collectible.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Kennerley and later reprints distinguished by imprint; modern editions carry number lines absent from the 1913 first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sons and Lovers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Duckworth London 1913. First issue in the publisher's blue/green cloth with Duckworth imprint and the '1913' date; 16-page catalogue of advertisements often present. UK first precedes US Mitchell Kennerley 1913.
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. Duckworth London 1913 is the true first; Mitchell Kennerley New York 1913 is the first US. The UK first is the standard collectible.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US Kennerley and later reprints distinguished by imprint; modern editions carry number lines absent from the 1913 first.
I have a first edition of Sons and Lovers — 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.