For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Hemingway, Ernest

Many consider For Whom the Bell Tolls to be author Ernest Hemingway’s finest work. Inspired by Hemingway’s time as a war correspondent for The North American Newspaper Alliance during the Spanish Civil War, For Whom the Bell Tolls is a stark and brutal commentary on the nature of war, sacrifice, and death. In fact, many believe his work is among the best depictions of the Spanish Civil War written. As with some of Hemingway’s other work, many of the characters, experiences, and events were based off real people and battles Hemingway saw. One of the most interesting qualities of For Whom the Bell Tolls is the use and restraint of profanity. Even though Hemingway had already written much about war and tribulations and had never seemed inclined to limit the use of vulgar language, For Whom the Bell Tolls is a clear exemption. When writing dialogue, Hemingway would insert the word “obscenity” instead of writing the exact word or phrase. There has been a lot of discussion about the reason for such omissions, and while some believe Hemingway was worried about the book being banned and thus wanted to make the book as reader-friendly as possible for a brutally violent war novel, others believe the omissions of profanity was due to transliteration problems and the author’s attempt to be as honest to the dialogue he heard as possible. There is no arguing with the legacy and influence Hemingway had not only on American culture, but also on generations of future writers. The Beatnik generation referred to Hemingway as “Papa” with a quite reverence, and Hemingway inspired countless journalists with his in-depth profiles and wartime articles. Even the cities where he wrote his books are now places for pilgrimage among his most devoted fans. Hemingway first started writing For Whom the Bell Tolls in Cuba and later finished it in Sun Valley, Idaho. In fact, both hotel rooms are now popular tourist destinations.

First Edition Identification

Published in 1940 by Charles Scribner in an initial print run of 75,000 copies at $2.75, a first printing of For Whom the Bell Tolls has the letter A present on the copyright page and may have the Scribner's seal present, although it hasn't been conclusively determined whether this is in fact a point of issue. First state dust jackets do not have a photo credit under the photograph of Hemingway. 

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For Whom The Bell Tolls
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For Whom The Bell Tolls

by Hemingway, Ernest

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Used
Published
1940
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Van Nuys, California, USA
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Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1940; First Edition; 8vo, 471 pages; publisher’s beige cloth; black spine titles over a red field. Hemingway’s dramatic semi-autobiographical tale of fate, courage, and death in the Spanish Civil War, released to considerable critical acclaim and recommended for the 1941 Pulitzer prize, though none was awarded that year. Source of the 1943 Oscar… Read more about this item
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For Whom the Bell Tolls
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For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Hemingway, Ernest

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Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1943
Binding
Hardcover
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Rapid River, Michigan, USA
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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1943. 1943 at title page; 1940 copyright. Early printing matching original first edition in design, quality, colors and size. Oatmeal full-cloth boards w/author's stamped signature, sharp spine titles on crisp red field, light shelf wear. Deckled pages near fine, bright; no writing. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Dust wrapper, light… Read more about this item
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FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
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FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

by Ernest Hemingway

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Used - Very Good+ with no dust jacket
Edition
First Edition; Early Printing
Published
1940
Binding
Hardcover
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Livonia, Michigan, USA
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Charles Scribner's Sons. Very Good+ with no dust jacket. 1940. First Edition; Early Printing. Hardcover. ****Spring Sale! The current price reflects a 20% discount off the regular price, while the item lasts. Sale ends April 2, 2024*****; 1940 printing in the same year as the first printing. Beige cloth cover has slight sunning to spine and scuffs… Read more about this item
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For Whom the Bell Tolls
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For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Hemingway, Ernest

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Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First
Published
1940
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First edition, first impression in first issue dust jacket. Original publisher's cloth. Some rubbing to label on spine with toning to edges and a small area of browning to edge of of paste-downs and endpapers. Contents beautifully clean throughout otherwise. The original and unclipped dust jacket has a little soft crease close to fore-edge of upper panel, else in beautiful,… Read more about this item
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For Whom The Bell Tolls
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For Whom The Bell Tolls

by Hemingway, Ernest

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Used - Fine
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Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1940
Binding
Hardcover
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Las Vegas , Nevada, USA
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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940 First printing of the first edition, in first state dust jacket. Basis for the 1943 classic Technicolor film directed by Sam Wood and starring Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman. Book with light toning to spine and endpapers, else in fine condition; first issue dust jacket with moderate edge wear, a closed tear to the… Read more about this item
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For Whom the Bell Tolls
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For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Hemingway, Ernest

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Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1940
Binding
Hardcover
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Fine. Signed by author Ernest Hemingway on first blank (following endpaper). Hemingway's signature is crisp, clear, and authentic. First edition, first printing of book ('A' on copyright page); and first issue jacket (omitting photographer's name) complete with $2.75 price. [10], 471 pp Hanneman A18A. The jacket is pristine and crisp,… Read more about this item
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For Whom the Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Ernest Hemingway

Condition
Used - very good
Edition
first, galley proofs
Published
1940
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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Scribner's, 1940. first, galley proofs. very good. Pre-publication galley proofs, first printing, the earliest state, the text terminating at galley page 141, concluding with a line of dashes between two Os to signify the end of the novel. Printed on rectos only, on two different paper stocks. A little chipping and minor soiling, overall very good. Housed in… Read more about this item
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NZ$93,197.50
For Whom the Bell Tolls
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For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Hemingway, Ernest

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Used - fine
Jacket Condition
very good
Edition
first
Published
1940
Binding
Hardcover
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940. first. hardcover. fine/very good. SIGNED first edition, with 1940 on title and copyright page and Scribner's "A". Book fine. Dust jacket very good, couple of tears and some wear. Housed in a custom-made fold-out case.
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NZ$16,945.00
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
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FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
Facsimile Reprint
Binding
Hardcover
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Buffalo, Wyoming, USA
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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Facsimile Reprint . Hardcover. Fine/Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Facsimile reprint - Book is in FINE condition with pencil marking to FFE else bright boards and sound binding. Dust jacket is in FINE condition - bright, intact and whole. Book is housed in VG slipcase - rubbing & scuffing to… Read more about this item
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FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
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FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

by Ernest Hemingway

Condition
Used - NEAR MINT
Jacket Condition
NO DJ
Edition
Charles Scribner's' Son, New York 1940, First Edition, later pri
Published
1940
Binding
Dark Blue cloth over boards, gold and silver lettering
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Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
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Charles Scribner's' Son, New York, 1940. Charles Scribner's' Son, New York 1940, First Edition, later printing. Dark Blue cloth over boards, gold and silver lettering. NEAR MINT/NO DJ. Charles Scribner's' Son, New York 1940, First Edition, later printing. Near Mint, solid, clean, no writing, soiling or labels. Very slight shelf wear, Dark Blue cloth over boards, gold and… Read more about this item
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For Whom the Bell Tolls (Signed by Lynd Ward)
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For Whom the Bell Tolls (Signed by Lynd Ward)

by Ernest Hemingway

Condition
Used - Very Good+
Edition
Limited Edition; First Printing
Published
1942
Binding
Hardcover
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Cape Town, ZAF
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New York: The Limited Editions Club. Very Good+. 1942. Limited Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. A VG+ or better book, some sunning to the spine but internally in fine condition, small bookplate on front endpaper, but otherwise pristine internally. VG with some minor splitting and abrasion at top corner in front.. Printed at the Princeton University Press and… Read more about this item
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For Whom the Bell Tolls (Scribner Classics) Hemingway

by Hemingway

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1968-01-01
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0684102390
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Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA
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Charles Scribner's Sons, 1968-01-01. Hardcover. Good. Good. No dust jacket. g solid clean tight book tan tweed boards w/ black signature and red and balck on spine
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NZ$28.60
For Whom the Bell Tolls
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For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Ernest Hemingway

Condition
Used - Very Good-
Edition
First
Published
1940
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Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, USA
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NZ$118.62

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NOT The First Printing, but a first edition from 1940 - blue boards
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NZ$118.62
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For Whom the Bell Tolls.

by HEMINGWAY, Ernest.

Condition
Used - Some of the usual abrasion to the red on the spine, else a fresh, unworn copy. There is a little darkening to the pastedowns.
Edition
First edition, in the first state of the dust jacket.
Published
1940.
Binding
Publisher's cloth in dust jacket, preserved in a custom quarter morocco folding clamshell box.
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Rochester, New York, USA
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New York:: Charles Scribner's Sons,, 1940.. First edition, in the first state of the dust jacket.. publisher's cloth in dust jacket, preserved in a custom quarter morocco folding clamshell box.. Some of the usual abrasion to the red on the spine, else a fresh, unworn copy. There is a little darkening to the pastedowns. The dust jacket… Read more about this item
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For Whom the Bell Tolls
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For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1940
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1
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940. First Edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. First edition, first printing. Bound in publisher's buff cloth, stamped in black and red. Near Fine with offsetting and tape ghosts to endsheets, pages tanned. In a Near Fine unclipped first issue dust jacket without the photographer's name listed on the rear panel, with light wear at… Read more about this item
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NZ$4,236.25
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
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FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1941
Binding
Hardcover
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Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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NZ$931.97

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Jonathan Cape: London. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1941. 1st Edition. Hardcover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" Tall; 462 pp; First UK Edition. Book has previous owner's book plate on the pastedown, pages unmarked, blue fabric covers excellent. Dust jacket with no chips or tears, no fading, white back panel slightly soiled/age toned.… Read more about this item
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FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
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FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

by Ernest Hemingway

Condition
Used - Good with no dust jacket
Published
1944
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Livonia, Michigan, USA
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Blakiston Company. Good with no dust jacket. 1944. Hardcover. ; Black cover is worn along corners and caps with a chip in the top of the spine panel. Boards and spine are straight. Binding is tight. Pages are clean and in very good condition. .
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NZ$50.83
For Whom the Bell Tolls  [In Pictorial Slipcase]
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For Whom the Bell Tolls [In Pictorial Slipcase]

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1968
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Rapid River, Michigan, USA
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NZ$396.43

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First Edition Library - Charles Scribner's Sons, 1968. First edition thus. Facsimile first printing w/ Scribner's "A" at copyright. 1968, latest date at copyright page. Beige full-cloth boards w/author's stamped signature, black spine titles on crisp red fields, fine. Deckled pages, fine. Includes F.E.L. card printed on both sides with historical facts, summary, and background… Read more about this item
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NZ$396.43
For Whom The Bell Tolls.

For Whom The Bell Tolls.

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used
Published
1940
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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NZ$13,217.10

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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940. For Whom the Bell Tolls combines two of Hemingway's recurring obsessions: war and personal honor. "This is the best book Ernest Hemingway has written, the fullest, the deepest, the truest. It will, I think, be one of the major novels of American literature Hemingway has struck universal chords, and he has struck them… Read more about this item
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For Whom the Bell Tolls
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For Whom the Bell Tolls

by HEMINGWAY, Ernest

Condition
New
Jacket Condition
New
Edition
First
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Pine Plains, New York, USA
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NZ$669.33

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Still Sealed in Shrink Wrap! EXTREMELY SCARCE in New Condition. An exact facsimile copy of the first edition of For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1940 with an approximate print run of 75,000. Both book and jacket are precise copies of the original. The only indicator that this is a facsimile is a small block… Read more about this item
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NZ$669.33