Book Collecting

Edith Wharton – First Edition Books: Identification Guide

Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton ( born Edith Newbold Jones; 1862 – 1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer. Wharton drew upon her insider’s knowledge of the upper class New York “aristocracy” to realistically portray the lives and morals of the Gilded Age. In 1921, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature, for her novel The Age of Innocence. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1996. Among her other well known works are The House of Mirth and the novella Ethan Frome.

The Age of Innocence (1920) won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for literature, making Wharton the first woman to win the award. The three fiction judges – literary critic Stuart Pratt Sherman, literature professor Robert Morss Lovett, and novelist Hamlin Garland – voted to give the prize to Sinclair Lewis for his satire Main Street, but Columbia University’s advisory board, led by conservative university president Nicholas Murray Butler, overturned their decision and awarded the prize to The Age of Innocence. She was also nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927, 1928, and 1930.

Wharton was friend and confidante to many gifted intellectuals of her time: Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, Jean Cocteau, and André Gide were all her guests at one time or another. Theodore Roosevelt, Bernard Berenson, and Kenneth Clark were valued friends as well. Particularly notable was her meeting with F. Scott Fitzgerald, described by the editors of her letters as “one of the better known failed encounters in the American literary annals”. She spoke fluent French, Italian, and German, and many of her books were published in both French and English.

Edith Wharton – First Editions Identification Guide

How to Identify First Edition books by Edith Wharton
YearTitlePublisherFirst edition/Printing Identification Points
1878VersesC. F. Hammet, Jr., 1878Published anonymously, privately prinnted, not for sale. Light greenish gray wove paper wrappers; front cover: moderate red single-rule frame, with moderate red ornaments at all four corners, surrounding black single-rule frame. Within frames: ‘[ornament in moderate red] | [ornate caps in black] VERSES. | [ornament in moderate red] ; back and spine: blank. No endpapers. All edges trimmed.
1897The Decorations of HousesCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1897First American edition. "‘Copyright, 1897, by Charles Scribner’s Sons." stated on © page. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Deep brown and light brown marbled paper-covered boards (shell), with very dark red C cloth (sand) spine; front and back covers: blank; spine: paper label.
  • (B) Dark pink, white, light grayish olive, and dark greenish blue marbled paper-covered boards (curl-and-bouquet); front and back covers: blank; spine: same as binding A. Wove endpapers.
Dust jacket: Light yellowish gray paper; front: moderate reddish brown lettering, in script ‘The | Decoration of | Houses | By | Edith Wharton | and | Ogden Codman Jr. | Charles Scribner’s Sons | New York’; back: blank; spine: in script ‘The | Decoration of | Houses | By | Edith Wharton | and | Ogden Codman Jr. | Charles Scribner’s Sons | New York’; front and back flap: blank.
ALSO: B. T. Batsford, London, 1898. First English edition. Very deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: blindstamped thick hedge border, outside of blindstamped single-rule border, surrounding blindstamped design of cherubs, pillars, and scrollwork, outside of blindstamped double-rule oval frame, with four goldstamped lines in the center. Coated endpapers. Top edges trimmed; front and bottom edges rough trimmed. Top edges gilded.
1899The Greater InclinationsCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1899First American edition. Copyright, i8gg, by Charles Scribner’s Sons’ stated on © page. Grayish olive-green paper-covered boards; front cover: goldstamped. Back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped with only "WHARTON" as author's name . Laid endpapers. Top edges trimmed; front and bottom edges rough trimmed. Top edges gilded.
  • ALSO: Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1899. Second printing. Same as the first Scribners printing, except: p. 255: printer’s imprint; p. 256: blank. Three bindings, priority of the first two undetermined:
  • (A) Same as the first Scribners printing.
  • (B) Same as binding A except for "EDITH| WHARTON" as name of the author goldstamped on spine.
  • (C) Same as binding B, except in white V cloth (smooth), and with one goldstamped rule at the top and one at the bottom of the spine.
ALSO: London: John Lane, The Bodley Head, MDCCCXCIX. First English edition. Dark olive T cloth (rib); front and back covers: same as the first Scribners printing; "JOHN LANE" goldstamped at bottom of spine.
ALSO: London: John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1899. Presumed second English printing. Same as the first John Lane printing, except: pp. 255-256: blank.
1900The TouchstoneCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1900First American edition. "Copyright, 1900, by Charles Scribner’s Sons" stated on © page. Grayish olive-green paper-covered boards; front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
Note: An announcement in Publishers’ Weekly, 23 June 1900, states that the book is in its “5th 1000.” No differences among copies dated 1900 have been found.
1900A Gift From the GraveLondon: John Murray, 1900First English edition. Only English edition. Moderate blue BF cloth (fine bead); similar to pasted-down selfwrappers, with front and back flaps not pasted down, and dark yellowish green leaf-and-vine design running vertically down both flaps; front cover: goldstamped.
1901Crucial InstancesCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1901First American edition. "Copyright, 1901, by Charles Scribner’s Sons" stated on © page. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Grayish olive-green paper-covered boards; front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
  • (B) Grayish reddish brown T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blindstamped single-rule frame; spine: goldstamped.
ALSO: London: John Murray, 1901. First English edition. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Moderate blue BF cloth (fine bead); front cover: goldstamped: all within floral border design.
  • (B) Grayish blue paper-covered boards, similar to pasted down selfwrappers, with threads on front and back flaps (which are not pasted down), presumably to tie together; front and back covers and spine same as binding A, except stamped in brilliant yellow.
1902The Joy of LivingCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1902First American edition. "Copyright, 1902, by Charles Scribners Sons" stated on © page. Olive-gray paper-covered boards; front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
ALSO: Duckworth & Co, London, 1903. First English edition. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Moderate greenish blue B cloth (linen);
  • (B) White paper-covered boards.
1902The Valley of DecisionCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MDCCCCIIFirst American edition. "‘Copyright, 1902, by Charles Scribner’s Sons" stated on © page. Very deep red V cloth (smooth); front and back covers: blank; spine: goldstamped.
ALSO: London: John Murray, 1902. First English edition. Moderate yellowish green BF cloth (fine bead), with all stamping in pale greenish yellow.
1903SanctuaryCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MDCCCCIIIFirst American edition. "‘COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS | PUBLISHED, OCTOBER, 1903" stated on © page. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Medium obve-green V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped lettering. Top edges stained dark grayish green.
  • (B) Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped. Top edges gilded.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1903. First English edition. Deep red BF cloth (fine bead); front cover: blackstamped; spine: goldstamped.
1904The Descent of ManCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1904First American edition. "Copyright, 1904, by Charles Scribner’s Sons" stated on © page. Vivid red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edges gilded.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1904. First English edition. Dark greenish blue T cloth (rib); front cover: all within blindstamped flower-leaf-vine design: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilded.
Note: The English edition marks the first collected appearance of “The Letter,” which did not appear in the first Scribners edition.
1904Italian Villas and Their GardensNew York: The Century Co., 1904First American edition. "Published November, 1904" stated on © page. Illustrated by Maxfield Parrish. Dark grayish green V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped with decorations.
ALSO: London: John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1904. First English edition. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Same as the First American edition except for "The | Bodley | Head" at bottom of spine.
  • (B) Moderate green paper-covered boards, with very dark yellowish green H cloth (fine diaper) spine; front and back covers: blank. All edges mottled with very dark red.
1905Italian BackgroundsCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMVFirst American edition. "Published April, 1905" stated on © page. Dark green V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped within rectangular frame of light greenish blue, light yellow green, and pale orange yellowstamped title design, with bird design stamped. Top edges gilded.
Dust jacket: Grayish yellow-green coated paper; front: all printed in very dark green.; back: blank; spine: unknown, missing from only located copy; front and back flaps: blank.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1905. Second printing, English issue. Deep blue BF cloth (fine bead); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. All edges gilded.
1905The House of MirthCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MDCCCVFirst American edition. "‘COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS" stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank. Top edges gilded. Dust Jacket, no blurb on front.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, [1905]. First Canadian edition. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) same as first issue, except for "McCleod | & Allen" goldstamped on spine.
  • (B) Light grayish olive printed wrappers; all printing in moderate blue; ALSO: Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, MDCCCV. Second printing. Laid paper ( transparent chain lines on paper). Dust jacket. On pp. 535-538: ads for nine books by Wharton.
ALSO: Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, MDCCCCV. Third printing. Wove paper. Dust jacket. On pp. 535-538: ads for nine books by Wharton.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1905. First English edition. Dark greenish blue T cloth (rib); front cover: all within blindstamped flower-leaf-vine design: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilded.
1907The Fruit of the TreeCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MDCCCCVIIFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS" stated on © page. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Grayish brown V cloth (smooth); front and back covers: blank; spine: white paper label:
  • (B) Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Dust jacket : Coated paper, all printing in strong red; front: ‘THE FRUIT OF THE TREE | [illustration, within single-rule frame] | EDITH WHARTON’; back: ads for books in “Scribner’s Popular Fiction Series,” including The House of Mirth and The Fruit of the Tree; spine: THE | FRUIT | OF | THE TREE | WHARTON | SCRIBNERS’; front flap: ad for W. W. Hornung’s Fathers of Men; back flap: ad for Frederick Palmer’s Over the Pass.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allan, [1907]. First Canadian edition. Copyright page, pagination, collation, typography and paper same as the first issue. Same as binding B of the first issue, except: "McCleod | & Allen" imprint on the spine.
1907Madame de TreymesCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1907First American edition. "PUBLISHED FEBRUARY, 1907" stated on © page. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Dark grayish brown V cloth (smooth); front cover: blindstamped triple-rule frame outside of blindstamped double-rule frame, with blindstamped triple-rule connected corners, surrounding goldstamped treeleaf-vine design within single-rule goldstamped frame; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edges gilded.
  • (B) Grayish green paper-covered boards, with white V cloth (smooth) spine; front and back covers: blank; spine: paper label. ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1907. First English edition. Medium red and light orange yellow streaked FL cloth (dotted line); front cover: all within ornate, triple-rule oval frame: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1907. First English edition. "‘Copyright in the United States of America, 1907" stated on © page. Dark greenish blue T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilded.
1908The Hermit and the Wild WomanCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMVIIIFirst American edition. "Published September, 1908" stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilt.
Dust jacket: Pale yellowish green paper; front: ‘[three lines within single rule frame] THE HERMIT | AND THE | WILD WOMAN | EDITH WHARTON’; back: ads for 14 Scribners books; spine: ‘THE | HERMIT | AND | THE WILD | WOMAN | EDITH | WHARTON | SCRIBNERS’; front and back flaps: blank. Laid paper.
ALSO: As above. Second printing. on Wove paper.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, MCMVIII. First Canadian edition. Same as the first Scribners printing, except: spine:"McCleod | & Allen" imprint. On wove paper.
1908A Motor-Flight Through FranceCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1908First American edition. "Published October, 1908" stated on © page. Dark olive-green T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilt.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1908. Second printing. First English edition. Dark red BF cloth (fine bead); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilt.
1909Artemis to Actaeon and other VerseCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1909First American edition. "Published April, 1909" stated on © page. Dark grayish green T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilt.
Dust jacket: Light yellowish brown paper; front: ‘ARTEMIS TO ACTAEON | &c. | EDITH WHARTON’; back: blank; spine: ARTEMIS | TO | ACTAEON | &c. | WHARTON | $1.25 | net. | SCRIBNERS’; front and back flaps: blank.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1908. Second printing. First English edition. Deep blue BF cloth (fine bead); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped with "MACMILLAN" imprint.
1910Tales of Men and GhostsCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMXFirst American edition. "Published October, 1910" stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilt.
Dust jacket: Pale greenish yellow wove paper; front: ‘[two lines within single-rule frame] TALES OF MEN | AND GHOSTS | EDITH WHARTON’; back: ads for 17 Scribners books, including Tales of Men and Ghosts; spine: ‘TALES | OF MEN | AND | GHOSTS | EDITH | WHARTON | SCRIBNERS’; front flap: ad and blurb for Theodore Roosevelt’s The Book of the Era; back flap: ad for Scribner’s Magazine.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., MCMX. First English edition. Dark blue T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstmped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Note: An eight-page undated catalogue of Macmillan publications is inserted between the stubs of leaves 287 and 288.
1911Ethan FromeCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMXIFirst American edition. "Published October, 1911" stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped ; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilt.
Dust jacket: Coated paper; front: ‘[two lines within single-rule frame] ETHAN j FROME | EDITH WHARTON’; back: ads for 15 Scribners books, including Ethan Frome; spine: ‘ETHAN | FROME | EDITH | WHARTON | $1.00 | NET | SCRIBNERS’; front flap: ads for four Scribners books; back flap: ad for Scribner’s Magazine.Note: First 2,500 copies had top edge gilt. The balance 3.500 copies, were not gilded.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., MCMXI. Second printing. First English edition. Moderate red and light orange-yellow-streaked FL cloth (dotted line); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
1912The ReefNew York: D. Appleton & Co., 1912First American edition. "Copyright, 1912, by | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1912. First English edition. Dark blue V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped; Dark blue V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped. Top edge gilt.
1913The Custom of the CountryCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMXIIIFirst American edition. "Published October, 1913" stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine:goldstamped.
Dust jacket: Pale greenish yellow wove paper; front: ‘[two lines within single-rule frame] THE CUSTOM OF | THE COUNTRY | EDITH WHARTON | [rule] | CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS’; back: ads for five Scribners books, including The Custom of the Country, spine: ‘THE ] CUSTOM | OF THE | COUNTRY ] EDITH | WHARTON | $1.35 | NET | SCRIBNERS’; front flap: ads for five Scribners books; back flap: ads for six Scribners books.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, [1913]. First Canadian Edition. Same binding as First American edition except spine goldstamped "McCleod | & Allen" imprint.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1913. First English edition. Very deep red V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Top edge gilt.
Dust jacket: Coated paper, the front covered with dark green pattern made up of repeated Macmillan logos; front: ‘THE CUSTOM OF THE | COUNTRY | EDITH WHARTON | [logo]’; back: ads for 11 Macmillan books; spine: ‘THE | CUSTOM | OF THE | COUNTRY | EDITH | WHARTON | [logo] | Six Shillings’; front and back flaps: blank.
1915Fighting France, From Dunkerque to BelfortCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMXVFirst American edition. "PUBLISHED NOVEMBER, 1915 " stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped ; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, [1915]. First Canadian edition. Binding, same as above, except spine imprint "McCleod | & Allen".
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1915. First English edition. Deep red BF cloth (fine bead); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped with "MACMILLAN & Co." imprint.
1916Xingxu and Other StoriesCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMXVIIFirst American edition. "Published October, 1916" stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
Dust jacket: Pale greenish yellow wove paper; front: ‘[one line in single-rule frame] XINGU [ EDITH WHARTON | [rule] | CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS’; back: ads for eight books, including Xingu; spine: ‘XINGU | AND | OTHER | STORIES | EDITH | WHARTON | $1.40 | NET | SCRIBNERS’; front flap: ads for 19 books by Wharton; back flap: ad for Scribner’s Magazine.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1916. First English edition. "Copyright, 1916, by Charles Scribner’s Sons" stated on © page. Very deep red V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
1917SummerNew York: D. Appleton & Co., 1917First American edition. "‘Copyright, 1917, by | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Dark red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Four-page catalogue date '20.31.8.17", inserted after p. 284.
Dust jacket: Coated paper; front: deep reddish purple border of hedge-and flower design, outside of box of deep reddish purple with, in white, ‘Summer | [flower design] | EDITH | WHARTON’; back cover: ads for nine Appleton books within single-rule frame printed in deep reddish purple; spine: deep reddish purple ‘SUMMER | [rule] | WHARTON | $1.50 Net | APPLETONS’; front and back flaps: blank. ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, 1917. Fist Canadian edition. Binding same as above, except for "McCleod" imprint on the spine.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1917. First English edition. Brilliant greenish blue B cloth (linen); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
1918The MarneNew York: D. Appleton & Co., 1918First American edition. "Copyright, 1918, by | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Grayish olive-green paper-covered boards, and moderate olive T cloth (rib) spine; front cover: stamped in strong greenish yellow; back cover: blank; spine: stamped in strong greenish yellow. No printing code on pp. 128 at the end of text.
Dust jacket: Pale yellow-green coated paper; front: all within moderate red single-rule frame: ‘[18 lines within ornate, single-rule frame, all in dark green] THE MARNE | A Novel by | EDITH WHARTON ] [13-line blurb] | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY | Publishers New York’; back: quotes from reviews for Summer and The Reef; spine: all in dark green: ‘[two rules, connected by vertical rules] | THE | MARNE | [rule] | WHARTON | [rule] | $1.25 | Net | APPLETON | [two rules, connected by vertical rules]’; front and back flaps: blank.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1918. First English edition. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Strong reddish orange C cloth (sand); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
  • (B) Grayish purplish blue paper-covered boards; front cover: all stamped in dark purplish blue; back cover: blank; spine: all stamped in dark purplish blue.
1919French Ways and Their MeaningNew York: D. Appleton & Co., 1919First American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Dark olive-green BF cloth (fine bead); ; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. "(1)" on p. 149 at the end of text.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1919. First English edition. Brilliant blue B cloth (linen); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
1920The Age of InnocenceNew York: D. Appleton & Co., MCMXXFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Deep red B cloth (linen); front cover: blackstamped; back cover: blank; spine: blackstamped. Printing code "(1)" at the end of text on p. 365.
Dust jacket, two issues, priority as listed:
  • (A) Coated paper; front: four deep blue lines in script, slanted up ward from spine to top of front, in upper left-hand corner: ‘The Age | of Innocence | by | Edith Wharton | [drawing, in moderate reddish orange yellow, light yellowish pink, and moderate reddish brown, of girl]’; back: quote from a review article by Percy Lubbock, and a blurb, all in deep blue; spine: eleven lines in deep blue: ‘THE AGE | OF | INNOCENCE | [rule] | WHARTON | [rule] | By the Author of “The House of Mirth" | APPLETON’; front flap: seven press notices of Wharton; back flap: ads for four books by Wharton.
  • (B) The same as Jacket A, except: spine: 13 lines in deep blue: ‘THE AGE | OF | INNOCENCE | [rule] | WHARTON | [rule] | [six-line announcement of the Columbia (Pulitzer) Prize, which the book won for 1921] | [logo].
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen,. Fist Canadian edition. Binding same as American edition, with "McCleod" imprint on the spine.
1920In MoroccoCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1920First American edition. "Published October, 1920" stated on © page. Deep purplish blue V cloth (smooth); front cover: brilliant green and brilliant greenish yellowstamped leaf-and-vine frame; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
Dust jacket: Yellowish white coated paper, with all printing in dark bluish green; front: all within single-rule frame: ‘IN | MOROCCO | [photograph] |EDITH WHARTON | [short rule] | CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS’; back: blank; spine: ‘IN | MOROCCO | BY | EDITH | WHARTON | SCRIBNERS’, front and back flaps: blank.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1920. First English edition. "Copyright, 1919-1920, by Charles Scribner’s Sons" stated on © page. Deep blue V cloth (smooth); front cover: three lines stamped in light greenish blue; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
1922The Glimpses of the MoonNew York: D. Appleton & Co., MCMXXIIFirst American edition. "‘COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Deep blue T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Printing code "(1)" on p. 364,
Dust jacket: Coated paper; front: drawing, in white, light pink, moderate yellowish pink, pale yellow, dark gray, dark grayish olive-green, very dark greenish blue, and black, of villa and grounds, with four lines in white at the top: ‘THE | GLIMPSES | of the MOON [ EDITH WHARTON’; back: ad, in blackish blue, for the book; spine: all in blackish blue: ‘[two rules] | The | GLIMPSES | of the | MOON | [two rules] | EDITH | WHARTON | By the | Author of | THE AGE OF | INNOCENCE | [two rules, intersected by publisher’s logo]’; front flap: blurb for The Age of Innocence; back flap: blurbs for Wharton and for The Glimpses of the Moon.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, 1922. Fist Canadian edition. Same binding as American edition, with "McCleod" imprint on spine.
1923A Son at the FrontCharles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMXXIIIFirst American edition. "Published September, 1923" stated on © page. Deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. p. 208.35 "lips" for "lids".
Dust jacket: Coated paper, with borders of alternating deep red, white, and dark blue checks between horizontal rules of deep blue, extending from front flap to back flap across both top and bottom edges of jacket; front: ‘[border] | [six lines in deep red] A SON | AT THE | FRONT | EDITH | WHARTON | CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS | [border]’; back: ‘[border] | [blurb within double-rule frame, all in deep red] | [border]’; spine: ‘[border] | [six lines in deep red] A SON | AT THE | FRONT | EDITH | WHARTON | SCRIBNERS | [border]’; front flap: ad, with excerpts from reviews, for Ethan Frome, in the Bruce Rogers edition; back flap: ad for Grant Overton’s American Nights Entertainment.
ALSO: Toronto: The Copp Clark Co, MCMXXIII. Fist Canadian edition. Binding same as the First American edition, except for "COPP, CLARK" imprint at spine.
ALSO: London: MacMillan & Co., 1923. First English edition. Deep purplish blue V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
1924Old New York: False DawnNew York: D. Appleton & Co., MCMXXIVFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1924, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Deep blue T cloth (rib); front cover: off-white paper label with gold printing; back cover: blank; spine: off-white paper label with gold printing.
Dust jacket: Coated paper, with flower designs in deep red, vivid greenish yellow, very dark bluish green, dark blue, and black, printed across front, back, and spine; front: printed in deep red: all within single-rule frame: ‘OLD NEW YORK—The ’Forties | [illustration, and lines one, two, and four from the paper label of the front cover, all within single-rule frame] | By EDITH WHARTON’; back: blank; spine: all in deep red. ‘[nine lines within single-rule frame] OLD | NEW YORK | [rule] | FALSE | DAWN | [rule] | EDITH | WHARTON | [publisher’s logo]’; front flap: ad for Old New York, and blurb for False Dawn; back flap: ads for all four books of Old New York. The inside of the dust jacket, printed in deep red, has an order form with which to order “the Edith Wharton number of the illustrated monthly bulletin, ‘Appleton Books,’ ” and ads for Appleton books, including six by Wharton.
Issued in a boxed set with The Old Maid, The Spark, and New Year’s Day. Binding and Dust jackets for these volumes are similar to the first one.
1925The Mother's RecompenseNew York: D. Appleton & Co., MCMXXVFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1925, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(1)" on p. 342. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Very deep red T cloth (rib); front cover: goldstamped in upper left-hand corner; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
  • (B) Same as Binding A, except: dark reddish orange B cloth (linen); stamping on front cover is in black and in upper right-hand corner; stamping on spine is in black.
Dust jacket, three variants, priority undetermined:
  • (A) Wove paper, mottled on print side in light reddish purple, white, and gold; front: all in dark blue: ‘[five lines within ornate frame] THE | MOTHER’S | RECOMPENSE | [one line in script] A Novel by | EDITH WHARTON’- back- ad for the four volumes of Old New York-, spine: all in dark blue: ‘[two rules] THE | MOTHER’S | RECOMPENSE | [two rules] | WHARTON | [two rules] | [two rules, broken in center by publishers logo] , front flap: blurb; back flap: ads for 11 books by Wharton.
  • (B) Same as jacket A, except: strong reddish orange wove paper.
  • (C) Same as jacket A, except: strong reddish orange wove paper.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, 1925. Fist Canadian edition. Binding same as First American edition, except for "McCleod" imprint at spine.
1926Here and BeyondNew York: D. Appleton & Co., McmxxviFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1926, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Dark purplish blue AA cloth (moire fine rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped. Printing code "(1)" on p. 325.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, 1926. Fist Canadian edition. Binding same as First American edition, except for "McCleod" imprint at spine.
1926Twelve PoemsThe Medici Society, London, MCMXXVILimited edition of 130 numbered copies signed by the author. Pale blue paper-covered boards, with bluish gray BF cloth (fine bead) spine; front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
Dust jacket: Pale blue laid paper with horizontal chain lines; front: ‘TWELVE POEMS BY | EDITH WHARTON’; back: blank; spine: printed top to bottom: ‘TWELVE POEMS BY | EDITH WHARTON’; front and back flaps: blank.
1927Twilight SleepNew York: D. Appleton & Co., McmxxviiFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT—1927—BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(A) on p. 373. Moderate violet S cloth (diagonal fine rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
Dust jacket: Very light greenish blue wove paper, all printing in dark purplish blue; front: ‘[circle design, with initials EW in center in script, the E above and overlapping the W] | Twilight | Sleep | By | EDITH | WHARTON’; back: ads for ten books by Wharton; spine: ‘Twilight | Sleep | [two rules] | EDITH | WHARTON | [two rules] | [publisher’s logo]’; front flap: blurb; back flap: ad for Here and Beyond.
ALSO: Toronto: McCleod & Allen, 1927. Fist Canadian edition. Binding same as First American edition, except for "McCleod" imprint at spine.
1928The ChildrenNew York: D. Appleton & Co., McmxxviiiFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT—1928—BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(I)" on p. 347. Black V cloth (smooth); front cover: brilliant greenish yellowstamped; back cover: blank; spine: brilliant greenish yellowstamped.
Dust jacket, four variants, priority of A-C undetermined:
  • (A) Light bluish green wove paper; front: ‘The | Children | [one line in script] by | EDITH | WHARTON | [circle design, with intersecting initials EW, in script, in the center]’; back: ads for 12 books by Wharton; spine: ‘[wavy double rule] | The | Children | [one line in script] by | EDITH | WHARTON | [wavy double rule] | [publisher’s logo]’; front flap: blurb; back flap: ad for Twilight Sleep.
  • (B) Same as jacket A, except: light yellowish brown wove paper.
  • (C) Same as jacket A, except: light yellowish brown wove paper.
  • (D) Same as jacket C, except: front: four-line quote from New York Times Book Review, in ornate brackets, to the left of the circle design.
1929Hudson River BracketedNew York: D. Appleton & Co., MCMXXIXFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1929, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(I)" on p. 560. Three bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Very dark greenish blue C cloth (sand); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
  • (B) Same as binding A, except: S cloth (diagonal fine rib).
  • (C) Same as binding A, except: dark reddish orange B cloth (linen). White wove endpapers. Top edges trimmed; front and bottom edges rough trimmed.
Dust jacket: Coated paper; front, back, and spine in light orange yellow, lettering in black; front: ‘HUDSON | RIVER | BRACKETED | [illustration of house and grounds, printed in sepia tones, on white background, surrounded by triple-rule frame] | [four lines in script] A New Novel by the Author of | “The Children” | & | “The Age of Innocence” | EDITH | WHARTON’; back: 14-line explanation of the term “Hudson River Bracketed,” within double-rule frame; spine: ‘HUDSON | RIVER | BRACKETED | BY | EDITH | WHARTON | [publisher’s logo]’; front flap: blurb; back flap: list of 15 books by Wharton.
1930Certain PeopleNew York: D. Appleton & Co., MCMXXX
  • First American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1930, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(I)" on p. 232. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Dark blue V cloth (smooth); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
  • (B) Same as binding A, except: brownish orange B cloth (linen).
Dust jacket: Wove paper; front: two parallel rules, in moderate bluish green and each 7/ie" thick, running vertically down center, against black background; five lines printed over the rules: ‘[two lines in white, the first in script] Certain | PEOPLE | [circle design, in white, with concentric black circle running inside white and surrounding initials ‘EW’ in script, in moderate bluish green, the ‘E’ overlapping the ‘W’[ | [two lines in white] BY EDITH | WHARTON’; back: ads for 12 books by Wharton; spine: one rule, in moderate bluish green and 7/16" thick, running vertically down center of spine, against black background, with five lines printed over the rule: ‘[four lines in white, the first in script] Certain [ PEOPLE | ■ | WHARTON | [publisher’s logo, in black and white]’; front flap: blurb; back flap: ad for Hudson River Bracketed.
Note: There is a second printing in 1930 with the same printing code as the first printing, except for: Binding is moderate blue V cloth (smooth), with all stamping in black instead of gold; the logo on the title page is within a black background.
1932The Gods ArriveNew York: D. Appleton & Co., MCMXXXIIFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1932, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(I)" on p. 432. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Dark blue S cloth (diagonal fine rib); front cover: goldstamped.
  • (B) Same as binding A, except: dark reddish orange B cloth (linen).
Dust jacket, two variants, no priority:
  • (A) Wove paper, front and spine with black background, back and flaps with white background; front: ‘[two lines in white] THE GODS | ARRIVE | [drawing, printed in black, white, and moderate greenish blue, of country home and garden, surrounded by black frame, outside of moderate greenish blue single-rule frame] | [three lines in moderate greenish blue] BY | EDITH | WHARTON’; back: “An Appreciation of Edith Wharton,” signed ‘WILLIAM LYON PHELPS.’; spine: white lettering ‘THE | GODS | ARRIVE | [small reproduction of front drawing] [ EDITH | WHARTON | [publisher’s logo, in black printing, against white background]’; front flap: blurb; back flap: note on Wharton.
  • (B) Same as jacket A, except: back cover has ‘In “The Delineator” ’ under ‘WILLIAM LYON PHELPS.’.
1933Human NatureNew York: D. Appleton & Co., MCMXXXIIIFirst American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1933, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(I)" on p. 249.  Dark blue S cloth (diagonal fine rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
Dust jacket: Coated paper; front: V4" deep blue rule running vertically down the center, against a black background, with four lines in white printed over the rule: ‘Human [ Nature | BY EDITH | WHARTON’; back: “An Appreciation of Edith Wharton,” signed ‘WILLIAM LYON PHELPS. | In “The Delineator” ’; spine: Vs" deep blue rule running vertically down the center, against a black background, with four lines in white printed over the rule: ‘Human | Nature | WHARTON | [publisher’s logo]’; front flap: blurb; back flap: note on Wharton.
Note: There is a second printing, same copyright and printing code as the first edition, except for: dark reddish orange B cloth (linen) binding.
1934A Backward GlanceNew York: D. Appleton & Co., 1934First American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1934, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(1)" on p. 395. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Deep blue S cloth (diagonal fine rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
  • (B) Same as binding A, except: FL cloth (dotted line).
Dust jacket, two variants, no priority:
  • (A) Light greenish yellow wove paper; front and back: moderate yellowish green quadruple-rule frame, with moderate yellowish green and white leaf designs in inner corners, surrounding seven moderate yellowish green and white lines printed over very dark greenish blue rectangular background: ‘A | BACKWARD | GLANCE | [leaf-and-vase design] | Reminiscences by | EDITH | WHARTON’; spine: ‘[four moderate yellowish green rules] | [eight moderate yellowish green and white lines, printed over very dark greenish blue rectangular background] A | BACKWARD | GLANCE | [flower-and-leaf design] | Edith Wharton | [leaf-and-vase design] | [publisher’s logo] | [four moderate yellowish green rules]’; front and back flap: blurb.
  • (B) Same as jacket A, except: front flap: the names of the cities “New York” and “London” are reversed; back flap: price is in English currency instead of American. Offered on books for sale in England.
1936The World OverNew York: D. Appleton & Co., 1936First American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1936, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(I)" on p. 309. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Dark purplish blue S cloth (diagonal fine rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
  • (B) Moderate brown H cloth (fine diaper); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
Dust jacket: Wove paper; front: Vf brilliant yellowish green rule running vertically down the center, against a blackish blue background, with five lines in white printed over the rule: ‘THE | WORLD | OVER | BY EDITH | WHARTON’; back: in blackish blue: “An Appreciation of Edith Wharton,” signed ‘WILLIAM LYON PHELPS. | In “The Delineator” ’; spine: grayish greenish yellow background, with five lines: ‘[four lines in blackish blue] THE | WORLD | OVER | WHARTON | [publisher’s logo, in blackish blue and white]’; front flap: blurb; back flap: ad for A Backward Glance.
1938The BuccaneersNew York: D. Appleton & Co., 1938First American edition. "COPYRIGHT, 1938, BY | D. APPLETON AND COMPANY" stated on © page. Printing code "(1)'"on p. 371. Two bindings, no priority:
  • (A) Dark blue S cloth (diagonal fine rib); front cover: goldstamped; back cover: blank; spine: goldstamped.
  • (B) Same as binding A, except: moderate brown H cloth (fine diaper).

Edith Wharton – First Printing Dust Jackets Identification Guide

Gallery of First state Dust Jackets of Wharton’s works. Only includes the first appearance in book form. Either the UK or US edition and does not include later printings.

Reference:

  • Wikipedia
  • Stephen Garrison: Edith Wharton, A Descriptive Bibliography.

BOOKSTORE: Rare, Antiquarian, First editions, Illustrated Children's Books

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