For Whom the Bell Tolls

The first edition has an "A" on the copyright page. However, there is some debate over whether the Scribner's seal should also be present on the copyright page. Other Scribner's books published around the same time such as such as To Have and Have Not, The Yearling, The Dark Horse, The Last Tycoon, and Cross Creek all have both the "A" and the seal. On the other hand we have not seen or heard about a copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls with both. The photo on this page was sent to us several years ago, and we have heard feedback that the photo looks suspect because the seal is not on the bottom of the page like in other Scribner's first editions. So we will label the photo as "not verified" and continue to be on the look-out for a book that will prove one way or another, whether both the "A" and the seal should be present. So at this point the jury is out. That said, we should also point out that editions with just the "A" are NOT scarce. There seems to be plenty of them on the market.

The first issue dust jacket lacks a photo credit on the reverse under the photo of Hemingway. That point is well established.

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. Want to hear a sample of For Whom the Bell Tolls? Check out our new Audible link on the right to listen to a portion of the audiobook.

Picture of the 1940 first edition dust jacket for For Whom the Bell Tolls.

This photo was sent to us several years ago, and is not verified because we were unable to locate another book with the same copyright page. Some have said that this photo looks suspect because the seal is not on the bottom of the page like in other Scribner's first editions. So even though we are suspicious, we are keeping this photo on the page to keep you aware of the possibility that a book with both the "A" and the seal might exist.

Picture of dust jacket where original $2.75 price is found for For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Picture of the back dust jacket for the first edition of For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Picture of the first edition Charles Scribner's Sons boards for For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Picture of the back dust jacket flap for the first edition of For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Other first edition points for books by Ernest Hemingway include: The Old Man and the Sea, Across the River and into the Trees, The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, To Have and Have Not, Men Without Women.

      

Disclaimer: This website is intended to help guide you and give you insight into what to look for when identifying first editions. The information is compiled from the experience of reputable collectors and dealers in the industry. Gathering and updating information about these books is more an art than a science, and new points of issue are sometimes discovered that may contradict currently accepted identification points. This means that the information presented here may not always be 100% accurate. If you spot a mistake, drop us an e-mail and we will do our best to investigate and correct it.

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