# Is "A Painted House" by John Grisham a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Painted House by John Grisham (Doubleday, 2001) is identified by: Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full number line ending in 1 for the first printing. US Doubleday edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full number line ending in 1 for the first printing
- Grisham's first novel outside the legal-thriller genre
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Grisham |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 2001 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full number line ending in 1 for the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full number line ending in 1 for the first printing. Grisham's first novel outside the legal-thriller genre.

## Is this the true first?
US Doubleday edition is the true first. A signed limited edition was also issued.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions omit the 'First Edition' statement and number line and typically bear a blindstamp on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Painted House* by John Grisham a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-painted-house
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.