In 1919 A.C. McClurg had two print-runs which have 1919 on the title page. The first 1919 printing has advertisements in the back and 3 blank pages (front & back excluding the rear end-paper) and the width of "A.C. McClurg" on the spine is 1 1/8" (29mm) wide). The second 1919 printing is different in a couple ways, first, "A.C. McClurg" on the spine is one inch wide (25mm), and, secondly, it does not have any advertisements in the back. Also, it does not have any blank pages other than the rear end-paper.

This book was printed twice in 1918 by A.C. McClurg, and, again twice in 1919. Both of the 1918 printings are identical other than the lettering on the spine for "A.C. McClurg" is narrower on the first state. The width of "A.C. McCLURG" on the first state is approximately 15/16 of an inch (24mm), whereas it is approximately 1 1/8 inch (29mm) wide on the 2nd state. The print order was determined by finding a consistant printing plate defect which was evident on all later printings. *

The total for both the 1918 & 1919 printings is 50,000 copies making this one of the easier First Edition ERB books to find. There are 8 full-page coated illustrations by J. Allen St. John.

There also exists a “mixed edition”, published in 1927, which has red boards and Grosset & Dunlap is on the spine of the book but A.C. McClurg is on the title page.

* ERB collector Jim Karr brought to my attention the difference in the width of "A.C. McClurg" and subsequent research on our part determined the print order. The printing plate defect is located on page 170, 2nd line from the bottom, in the word "it", which is missing the dot above the "i" and the "t" is marred above cross bar.

Above is a reproduction of the first edition dust jacket purchased from the defunct ERB Jacket Store.

From 1919 until 1928 A.L. Burt reprinted this title in a number of variations as shown above. The lettering on the front cover and spine is in black. “A.L. Burt” is printed on the spine and title page. A.L. Burt did not include the date of the printing so many a novice incorrectly assumes the book to be a first edition as the only date listed is the copyright date.

From 1927 until 1967 Grosset & Dunlap reprinted this title in a number of variations with some of them shown above. Mostly the colors of the books are some hue of red. Grosset & Dunlap did not include the date of the printing so many a novice incorrectly assumes the book to be a first edition as the only date listed is the copyright date. The age of the book can often be approximated by examining the advertisements in the back of the book for other Edgar Rice Burroughs titles.