Determining the Text: Bibliographic Studies, Codicology, and Book Collecting

        These are the first seven hits out of 33 from results of a Spring 2003 search of ABE.com's client bookstores for first editions (1925) of Ernest Hemingway's In Our Time.  What do these descriptions of the text tell you about the work's publishing history between 1925 and now, and about differences of opinion about this text's various versions in print, at least among booksellers, who are a very special breed of literary analyst?

1.	HEMINGWAY, Ernest.
	IN OUR TIME.
	Boni & Liveright, 1925. Signed by Author. First Edition, following the 170 copy Paris limited edition. One of only 1335 copies. Front cover gilt and design are clean and bright. Spine is darkened and the gilt gone, though the spine is still readable. Slight wear to edges. No dust jacket. Tipped to the page preceding the half-title page is an ERNEST HEMINGWAY SIGNATURE. This signature appears to have been cut from a larger sheet of paper. Overall a near fine copy of what was undoubtedly the 20th century's most important collection of short stories. Hemingway's first book and a strong influence on writers ever since. Contains what are still regarded as some of Hemingway's finest short stories. A classic and very scarce in any case, but almost never found signed. NF. Bookseller Inventory #832
	Price: US$ 7500.00 (Convert Currency)
	Bookseller: M/S & Schwartz Books, Marina del Rey, CA, U.S.A. (Search this Seller's Books)(Ask Bookseller a Question)
2.	Hemingway, Ernest.
	In Our Time.
	London: Jonathan Cape. First UK Edition, 1926. Hanneman A32. Alternate state blue binding stamped in white, in white dustjacket printed in black with blue decorations. Fine copy. Minute wear to head of spine panel and two t iny closed tears, fresh, clean, unworn, unfaded and unread. 249pp. Minor textual changes from the first edition. The dustwrapper indicates this is "No. 5" in "The Story Series" with ads on back panel. Very scarce in this condition. Bookseller Inventory #8078XABD00
	Price: US$ 3250.00 (Convert Currency)
	Bookseller: Compass Rose Books, Kensington, CA, U.S.A. (Search this Seller's Books)(Ask Bookseller a Question)
3.	Ernest Hemingway
	In Our Time
	Good [ Torn pages: NO ] [ Underlining: YES ] [ Writing: YES ] [ Broken Seams: NO ] Paperback: 156 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.34 x 8.02 x 5.25 Publisher: Scribner Paperback Fiction; (January 1996) first edition. ISBN:0684822768 Bookseller Inventory #41840
	Price: US$ 7.29 (Convert Currency)
	Bookseller: BookHolders LLC, Gambrills, MD, U.S.A. (Search this Seller's Books)(Ask Bookseller a Question)
4.	Hemingway, Ernest
	IN OUR TIME
	New York: Boni & Liveright, 1925. Hard Cover. First Edition. A bright and solid copy of the author's second book, about fine, with some mild and very faint cover staining, some dulling to the gilt on spine--gilt on front is bright and fresh--and with a small and light dampstain to upper page edges at the corner affecting the first 60 pages, diminishing in size from thumbnail-size to nothing, no dust jacket. Bookseller Inventory #000818
	Price: US$ 3000.00 (Convert Currency)
	Bookseller: Albert Books, Great Neck, NY, U.S.A. (Search this Seller's Books)(Ask Bookseller a Question)
5.	HEMINGWAY, Ernest
	IN OUR TIME
	LONDON, JONATHAN CAPE [1926]. DUST JACKET (UNCLIPPED; FEW TINY NICKS); WITH ROUND STAMP ON FLYLEAF "OVERSEAS EDITION" AND SMALL BOOKSELLER TICKET OF TEL AVIV BOOKSELLER MAAYAN; ORIGINAL BLUE CLOTH STAMPED IN WHITE (THE FIRST STATE IS STAMPED IN GILT); ONE OF A FEW COPIES OF THE ENGLISH FIRST EDITION THAT WERE EXPORTED. THERE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MUCH INTEREST IN ISRAEL FOR HEMINGWAY AT THIS TIME. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION VERY GOOD. Bookseller Inventory #194822
	Price: US$ 3850.00 (Convert Currency)
	Bookseller: Houle Rare Books & Autographs/ABAA/PADA, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. (Search this Seller's Books)(Ask Bookseller a Question)
6.	Hemingway, Ernest
	In Our Time
	Charles Scribner's Sons New York 1970. 1st printing PB G A book of stories written by Ernest Hemingway, paperback with 156 pages. Bookseller Inventory #005182
	Price: US$ 12.00 (Convert Currency)
	Bookseller: ABC Collectables Used Books, Luck, WI, U.S.A. (Search this Seller's Books)(Ask Bookseller a Question)
7.	Hemingway, Ernest.
	In Our Time: Stories.
	NY. Scribner's. 1930. First Edition, thus. The copyright page must contain the Scribner's Seal but it is not required to have the "A". This is the true first edition of this revised edition with the Wilson introduction. Only 3,240 copies printed. Getting scarce. VG- in shiny black woven cloth with gold paper labels on the front boards and spine. The labels have some nicks and wear but are presentable. The book is very clean and tight with the exception of a couple of carelessly opened pages at the end of Wilson's introduction.No markings. First Edition, thus. The copyright page must contain the Scribner's Seal but it is not required to have the "A". This is the true first edition of this revised edition with the Wilson introduction. Bookseller Inventory #3085
	Price: US$ 250.00 (Convert Currency)
	Bookseller: Brainerd F. Phillipson ~ Rare Books, Holliston, MA, U.S.A. (Search this Seller's Books)(Ask Bookseller a Question)