The points of issue
First printing has 'Published September, 1922' on the copyright page with the Scribner's seal. Bound in dark green cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine and front cover. First-issue dust jacket carries the John Held Jr. illustration. Scarce in the original jacket.
Is this the true first?
True US first. The Collins (London) edition of 1923 is a later first thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later printings carry later dates on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tales of the Jazz Age a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 'Published September, 1922' on the copyright page with the Scribner's seal. Bound in dark green cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine and front cover. First-issue dust jacket carries the John Held Jr. illustration. Scarce in the original jacket.
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. The Collins (London) edition of 1923 is a later first thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Later printings carry later dates on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Tales of the Jazz Age — 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.