# Is "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1905) is identified by: First issue: 'Published October, 1905' on the copyright page with the Scribner seal; no advertisements at the rear (later printings add rear ads); red ribbed cloth lettered in gilt; complete with the A. True US first; the US Scribner edition precedes the UK Macmillan edition of 1905.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First issue: 'Published October, 1905' on the copyright page with the Scribner seal; no advertisements at the rear (later printings add rear ads); red ribbed cloth lettered in gilt; complete with the A. B. Wenzell frontispiece and full set of plates
- Wharton bibliography reference Garrison A12.I.a
- First-issue dust jacket extremely scarce
- Publisher imprint reads Charles Scribner's Sons, New York
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edith Wharton |
| Publisher | Charles Scribner's Sons, New York |
| Year | 1905 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First issue: 'Published October, 1905' on the copyright page with the Scribner seal; no advertisements at the rear (later printings add… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First issue: 'Published October, 1905' on the copyright page with the Scribner seal; no advertisements at the rear (later printings add rear ads); red ribbed cloth lettered in gilt; complete with the A. B. Wenzell frontispiece and full set of plates. Wharton bibliography reference Garrison A12.I.a. First-issue dust jacket extremely scarce.

## Is this the true first?
True US first; the US Scribner edition precedes the UK Macmillan edition of 1905. The Wenzell illustration plates should be present and complete.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. Later printings add advertisements at the rear and later month notices.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The House of Mirth* by Edith Wharton a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-house-of-mirth
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.