The points of issue
First state of the first edition has the misprint signing for singing on page 213, line 31. Additional first-state points: three integral blank leaves at the front (none at the back), no colophon device on the copyright page, and the leaf bearing pages 9 and 10 tipped in rather than sewn. First-issue dust jacket carries the publisher's blurb on the front, spine, and back.
Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Hutchinson edition (1922). The first-state textual point is the signing for singing misprint on page 213, line 31, corrected in later printings.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club issue. Later printings correct the page 213 misprint, and Doran's colophon device appears on the copyright page of later impressions.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Three Soldiers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First state of the first edition has the misprint signing for singing on page 213, line 31. Additional first-state points: three integral blank leaves at the front (none at the back), no colophon device on the copyright page, and the leaf bearing pages 9 and 10 tipped in rather than sewn. First-issue dust jacket carries the publisher's blurb on the front, spine, and back.
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 UK Hutchinson edition (1922). The first-state textual point is the signing for singing misprint on page 213, line 31, corrected in later printings.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club issue. Later printings correct the page 213 misprint, and Doran's colophon device appears on the copyright page of later impressions.
I have a first edition of Three Soldiers — 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.