The points of issue
First issue: 'Published October, 1913' on the copyright page with the Scribner seal; octavo of 594 pages in red cloth lettered in gilt on front cover and spine. Wharton bibliography reference Garrison A15. First-issue dust jacket extremely scarce.
Is this the true first?
True US first; the US Scribner edition precedes the UK Macmillan edition of 1913.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. Later printings note later months.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Custom of the Country a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First issue: 'Published October, 1913' on the copyright page with the Scribner seal; octavo of 594 pages in red cloth lettered in gilt on front cover and spine. Wharton bibliography reference Garrison A15. First-issue dust jacket extremely scarce.
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 US Scribner edition precedes the UK Macmillan edition of 1913.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. Later printings note later months.
I have a first edition of The Custom of the Country — 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.