The points of issue
First printing has the Scribner's 'A' with 1934 imprint; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price. The first-issue text precedes the later author-revised reordering.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner's 1934 'A' first is the true first. No signed/limited trade issue; the jacketed 'A' first is the landmark.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 'A'; book-club copies are blind-stamped and lack the seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tender Is the Night a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the Scribner's 'A' with 1934 imprint; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price. The first-issue text precedes the later author-revised reordering.
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's 1934 'A' first is the true first. No signed/limited trade issue; the jacketed 'A' first is the landmark.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 'A'; book-club copies are blind-stamped and lack the seal.
I have a first edition of Tender Is the Night — 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.