# Is "This Side of Paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1920) is identified by: First printing (Bruccoli A5.1.a) has the Scribner seal and reads 'Published April, 1920' on the copyright page, with no later reprinting statements. Fitzgerald's first book; true US first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing (Bruccoli A5.1.a) has the Scribner seal and reads 'Published April, 1920' on the copyright page, with no later reprinting statements
- Bound in dark green cloth lettered in gilt on the spine with blind-stamped lettering on the front board
- First-issue dust jacket carries no printing statement and shows only the publisher's description on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Charles Scribner's Sons, New York
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | F. Scott Fitzgerald |
| Publisher | Charles Scribner's Sons, New York |
| Year | 1920 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing (Bruccoli A5.1.a) has the Scribner seal and reads 'Published April, 1920' on the copyright page, with no later reprinting… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First printing (Bruccoli A5.1.a) has the Scribner seal and reads 'Published April, 1920' on the copyright page, with no later reprinting statements. Bound in dark green cloth lettered in gilt on the spine with blind-stamped lettering on the front board. First-issue dust jacket carries no printing statement and shows only the publisher's description on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
Fitzgerald's first book; true US first edition. The UK Collins edition (1921) is a separate first thus, not a precedence concern.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later printings add reprinting statements (for example 'Reprinted' lines and later month notices) below the publication line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *This Side of Paradise* by F. Scott Fitzgerald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/this-side-of-paradise
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.