The points of issue
First printing of 1921 with no printing or edition notice on the copyright page beyond the initial copyright; later printings add a 'Second printing' (and so on) notice. Written and profusely illustrated by van Loon himself with pen-and-ink drawings, maps, and color plates. Issued in publisher's pictorial cloth with a paste-on cover illustration. Octavo.
Is this the true first?
The US Boni & Liveright edition of 1921 is the true first (American author, US publisher). It was the first book awarded the Newbery Medal (1922).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Liveright reprinted and revised the book repeatedly over the following decades; revised and updated editions carry later title-page dates and additional chapters. Any copy with a printing notice later than the first, or a post-1921 title-page date, is not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Story of Mankind a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of 1921 with no printing or edition notice on the copyright page beyond the initial copyright; later printings add a 'Second printing' (and so on) notice. Written and profusely illustrated by van Loon himself with pen-and-ink drawings, maps, and color plates. Issued in publisher's pictorial cloth with a paste-on cover illustration. Octavo.
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. The US Boni & Liveright edition of 1921 is the true first (American author, US publisher). It was the first book awarded the Newbery Medal (1922).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Liveright reprinted and revised the book repeatedly over the following decades; revised and updated editions carry later title-page dates and additional chapters. Any copy with a printing notice later than the first, or a post-1921 title-page date, is not the first.
I have a first edition of The Story of Mankind — 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.