The true first edition was a limited edition signed by Lewis. It was numbered and limited to 500 copies. It was issued quarter bound in white buckram and blue boards with paper spine label, top edges gilt in a blue cardboard slipcase. It was wrapped in glassine instead of a dust jacket. It also had an extra spine label tipped-in.
The second printing was the first trade edition, and this is stated on the copyright page. The first trade edition was issued with a dust jacket priced at $2.00.
Arrowsmith book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
To find the market value for this book, click on the pre-filled eBay, AbeBooks, or Biblio links to the right and look for comparable listings that have all of these first edition points.
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 | Photo of the first edition of Arrowsmith. It was issued on handmade paper, numbered, and signed by the author. |  | Copyright page from the first true edition of Arrowsmith. |  | This is the signature page from the true first edition. |  | The true first edition of Arrowsmith was issued in a blue cardboard slipcase. The extra tipped-in label was applied to the back of this slipcase. |  | The true first edition of Arrowsmith had a gilt top edge to the pages. |  | The title page from the true first edition of Arrowsmith. |  | The limited signed edition had an extra spine label tipped-in. |  | Arrowsmith first trade edition dust jacket |  | Copyright page from the first trade edition. |  | Picture of dust jacket where the original $2.00 price is found for the first trade edition of Arrowsmith. |  | This is the back of the dust jacket for the first trade edition of Arrowsmith. Photo courtesy of James Cahill/Rare Books, Inc.
|  | The first trade edition had orange letters on blue boards. |  | The back dust jacket flap for the first trade edition of Arrowsmith. |  | The title page from the first trade edition of Arrowsmith. |
craig swift | June 4, 2010, 1:56 pm | I have an edition of arrowsmith that does not have a publisher's page. the hard cover is dark blue/black and the title is in block form in an orange setting, the the author's name (Sinclair Lewis) is also in orange in the lower half. The spine is a black tape like wrap with ARROWSMITH and Lewis (both in gold lettering). on the inside of the hardcover there is a pasted sheet that says ARROWSMITH, and under the name is "by Sinclair Lewis author of Maintreet, Badditt, etc. followed by " WHAT THE CRTICS SAY;' with quotes from H.L. Menken, N.Y. Times Spector (london), London Times, William Allen White, and Chicago Daily News. The page cover before Lewis's credit to Dr. DeKruif is a list of novels by the author that include Our Mr. Wrenn, The trail fo the hawk, the job, Free air, Main Street, Babbitt, and Arrowsmith. There is a small embosed stamp on the first page that say "LIBRARY OF HAWAII". The book has 448 pages, however, there is typewriter written single sided pages for 239, 240a, 240b and 240c. Any information on this edition is greatly appreciated. you can reach me at ... ctimothys@hawaiiantel.net | |
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