The points of issue
Knopf states 'First Edition' on the copyright page accompanied by the Borzoi colophon (Knopf house practice; no descending number line). Issued in cloth-backed boards with a price-bearing first-state dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Alfred A. Knopf (New York), 1997, is the true first edition. Won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, 1997.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions generally lack the 'First Edition' statement and the printed jacket price and are often smaller and lighter than the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf states 'First Edition' on the copyright page accompanied by the Borzoi colophon (Knopf house practice; no descending number line). Issued in cloth-backed boards with a price-bearing first-state dust jacket.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Alfred A. Knopf (New York), 1997, is the true first edition. Won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, 1997.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions generally lack the 'First Edition' statement and the printed jacket price and are often smaller and lighter than the trade first.
I have a first edition of American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.