# Is "Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle" by Vladimir Nabokov a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle by Vladimir Nabokov (McGraw-Hill, 1969) is identified by: First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page together with the McGraw-Hill code 45720 and no later-printing notation. US McGraw-Hill (May 1969) is the true first; it precedes the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page together with the McGraw-Hill code 45720 and no later-printing notation
- Black cloth with blind-debossed lettering on the front board, gilt spine, and the author-portrait jacket carrying the printed price
- Publisher imprint reads McGraw-Hill
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Vladimir Nabokov |
| Publisher | McGraw-Hill |
| Year | 1969 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page together with the McGraw-Hill code 45720 and no later-printing notation |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page together with the McGraw-Hill code 45720 and no later-printing notation. Black cloth with blind-debossed lettering on the front board, gilt spine, and the author-portrait jacket carrying the printed price.

## Is this the true first?
US McGraw-Hill (May 1969) is the true first; it precedes the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies are blind-stamped on the rear board and carry an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle* by Vladimir Nabokov a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/ada-or-ardor-a-family-chronicle
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.