Brothers Karamazov was first published in February 1929 in two different binding styles. It came out in both the transitional binding as well as in Toledano binding style 5 with full-sized grape vine on the spine, gold stamping of all elements, and Kent endpapers.

The first printing in both cases came with the last sheet of the book block blank, and no blank sheets at the front. The list on the inverse of the dust jacket includes Brothers Karamazov but not Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The second printing retained the First Edition slug on the copyright page, but the running torchbearer on the front cover is blindstamped without the gold.

In post-1938 printings the first page of each book within the novel holds a small illustration.

151.2 Binding Notes

Regular contributor Bill Hornick reports the following:

• Bindings 8, 11, and 14 have revised bibliographies
• Binding 14 has an illustrated title page
• Bindings 11 & 14 have pagination on page 940 plus "THE END" in caps

Further, the DJ covering binding 11 has a different illustrated back style with the only text being a quote from Mirsky's History of Russian Literature.

First binding style:   1929 transitional and style  5 (this style's 1st use) (reg)
                                   G3 (giant)

First inverse DJ number:    150 (reg), 253 (giant)