Ernest Hemingway — For Whom the Bell Tolls
 
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, October 1940 First Edition, First Printing; Second‑Issue Dust Jacket
 
A very good first printing of Hemingway’s monumental novel of the Spanish Civil War, from the initial run of 75,000 copies, with the Scribner’s “A” on the copyright page. This example retains its original second‑issue dust jacket, correctly priced at $2.75 and carrying the photographer’s credit on the rear panel.
 
Book - 8vo. 471pp. Publisher’s pale brown cloth, the spine stamped in black on a red panel; Hemingway’s facsimile signature appears in black on the front board. Top edge brown, other edges uncut.
The cloth shows sunning to the spine with fading to the titles, and the corners exhibit rubbing from handling. The head of the spine is gently softened. The interior remains clean and unmarked, with only the expected offsetting to the endpapers, typical of the title and period.
 
Dust Jacket - The unclipped jacket presents well, with light creasing along the edges and spine tips. The rear panel shows foxing and a few surface scratches, and a small, closed tear at the lower rear panel has been archivally repaired on the verso with acid‑free tape. Despite these points, the jacket retains strong color and remains a solid, attractive example of the correct second‑issue state.
 
A Note on the Copy
A handsome, honest first printing of one of Hemingway’s most enduring works — increasingly difficult to find in collectible condition with the jacket present and unaltered.