# Is "Blankets" by Craig Thompson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Blankets by Craig Thompson (Top Shelf Productions, 2003) is identified by: First edition, Top Shelf Productions, 2003, thick (approximately 582 pp.) softcover, ISBN 1-891830-43-0 (9781891830433). US true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, Top Shelf Productions, 2003, thick (approximately 582 pp.) softcover, ISBN 1-891830-43-0
- The key point of issue is the copyright page reading 'First Printing, July 2003' with the original Top Shelf imprint and price
- First-printing copies predate the later Top Shelf reprintings and the 2011 anniversary hardcover
- Correct publisher/imprint: Top Shelf Productions

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Craig Thompson |
| Publisher | Top Shelf Productions |
| Year | 2003 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Comic / graphic novel |
| Key point | First edition, Top Shelf Productions, 2003, thick (approximately 582 pp.) softcover, ISBN 1-891830-43-0 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First edition, Top Shelf Productions, 2003, thick (approximately 582 pp.) softcover, ISBN 1-891830-43-0 (9781891830433). The key point of issue is the copyright page reading 'First Printing, July 2003' with the original Top Shelf imprint and price. First-printing copies predate the later Top Shelf reprintings and the 2011 anniversary hardcover.

## Is this the true first?
US true first. The 2011 hardcover anniversary edition is a separate later issue. Confirm the 'First Printing, July 2003' statement on the copyright page rather than relying on the date alone.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; later softcover printings carry revised printing statements. Confirm the 'First Printing, July 2003' wording on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Blankets* by Craig Thompson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/blankets
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.