The points of issue
First printing identified by the date on the title page matching the copyright page with no statement of a later printing. The Scribner seal is not a dependable first-edition point for this period and should not be relied upon.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1925). Serialized in the Saturday Evening Post in 1924 before book publication.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry a printing statement on the copyright page; the seal is not a reliable test of priority.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Black Cargo a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by the date on the title page matching the copyright page with no statement of a later printing. The Scribner seal is not a dependable first-edition point for this period and should not be relied upon.
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 first edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1925). Serialized in the Saturday Evening Post in 1924 before book publication.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry a printing statement on the copyright page; the seal is not a reliable test of priority.
I have a first edition of The Black Cargo — 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.