The　virgin　compression　of　reconstituted　clays　is　essential　for　assessing　soil　structure　developed　during　geological　processes　as　a　reference　to　compare　with　that　of　natural　clays.　It　is　well　observed　experimentally　that　compression　behavior　of　reconstituted　clays　is　greatly　affected　by　initial　water　contents.　However,　the　quantitative　description　of　virgin　compression　seldom　includes　initial　water　content　effects.　In　this　study,　a　new　quantitative　description　is　proposed　for　describing　initial　water　content　effects　on　virgin　compression　of　reconstituted　clays.　The　proposed　general　compression　model　is　then　used　to　predict　the　compression　behavior　of　24　types　of　clays　over　90　tests　covering　a　wide　range　of　stress　levels.　An　overall　good　agreement　between　the　predicted　and　measured　compression　curves　suggests　that　the　proposed　model　provides　a　useful　means　to　estimate　the　virgin　compression　of　clays　reconstituted　at　various　initial　water　contents.　This　work　can　then　be　taken　as　a　useful　reference　with　enabling　the　initial　water　content　of　reconstituted　clays　equal　to　the　natural　water　content　of　natural　clays　for　evaluating　soil　structure.　©　2017,　©　2017　Taylor　&　Francis.