The points of issue
Edition limited to 1,000 copies on three papers: nos. 1-100 on Dutch handmade paper SIGNED by Joyce; nos. 101-250 on vergé d'Arches; nos. 251-1,000 on handmade paper. Blue printed wrappers with white lettering ('Ulysses by James Joyce'). The first printing contains the printer's errata and the famous textual errors of the Dijon (Darantiere) printing.
Is this the true first?
The Paris Shakespeare and Company 1922 is the true first; copies 1-100 are signed/limited and the apex. The 1922 Egoist Press (London) 'second printing' of 2,000 (some destroyed by customs) is a later state, not the first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Odyssey Press (1932) and Random House (1934, first US) are later editions; any copy not in the Darantiere blue Paris wrappers with the stated limitation is not the 1922 first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ulysses a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Edition limited to 1,000 copies on three papers: nos. 1-100 on Dutch handmade paper SIGNED by Joyce; nos. 101-250 on vergé d'Arches; nos. 251-1,000 on handmade paper. Blue printed wrappers with white lettering ('Ulysses by James Joyce'). The first printing contains the printer's errata and the famous textual errors of the Dijon (Darantiere) printing.
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 Paris Shakespeare and Company 1922 is the true first; copies 1-100 are signed/limited and the apex. The 1922 Egoist Press (London) 'second printing' of 2,000 (some destroyed by customs) is a later state, not the first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Odyssey Press (1932) and Random House (1934, first US) are later editions; any copy not in the Darantiere blue Paris wrappers with the stated limitation is not the 1922 first.
I have a first edition of Ulysses — 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.