The points of issue
First printing has 'Published March, 1922' on the copyright page with the Scribner's seal. Bound in green cloth lettered in gilt on the spine. First-issue dust jacket carries the illustration by W. E. Hill, whose figures of Anthony and Gloria were drawn to resemble Scott and Zelda. Far scarcer in the original jacket.
Is this the true first?
True US first, Fitzgerald's second novel. The Collins (London) edition 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 rather than the March 1922 statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Beautiful and Damned a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 'Published March, 1922' on the copyright page with the Scribner's seal. Bound in green cloth lettered in gilt on the spine. First-issue dust jacket carries the illustration by W. E. Hill, whose figures of Anthony and Gloria were drawn to resemble Scott and Zelda. Far scarcer 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, Fitzgerald's second novel. The Collins (London) edition 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 rather than the March 1922 statement.
I have a first edition of The Beautiful and Damned — 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.