The points of issue
First printing identified by the Scribner seal on the copyright page and matching 1926 dates on title and copyright pages, with no later printings indicated. Bound in dark green cloth lettered in red, with a paper spine label. Published May 1926; first printing of about 1,250 copies.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the 1933 UK Jonathan Cape edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club of note. The first printing predates Scribner's 'A' system, so it has no 'A' on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Torrents of Spring a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by the Scribner seal on the copyright page and matching 1926 dates on title and copyright pages, with no later printings indicated. Bound in dark green cloth lettered in red, with a paper spine label. Published May 1926; first printing of about 1,250 copies.
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; precedes the 1933 UK Jonathan Cape edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club of note. The first printing predates Scribner's 'A' system, so it has no 'A' on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Torrents of Spring — 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.