# Is "Blood Meridian signed first" by Cormac McCarthy a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Blood Meridian signed first by Cormac McCarthy (Random House, 1985) is identified by: US Random House, 1985. US Random House, 1985, is the true first edition; there is no earlier printing to precede it.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Random House, 1985
- First Edition is stated on the copyright page above the Random House number line 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3, with the ISBN string 394-54482-X appearing at the lower right of the rear jacket panel
- The book is octavo, roughly 337 pages, quarter-bound in red cloth over paper-covered boards with the spine lettered in gilt
- The first-state dust jacket reproduces Salvador Dali's 'The Phantom Cart' on the front panel and carries the author's photograph with the Mark Morrow photo credit at the lower left of the rear panel; the printed jacket price should be present
- When present, the author's signature does not itself confer first-edition status, so verify the printed points as well
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Cormac McCarthy |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Random House, 1985 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Random House, 1985. First Edition is stated on the copyright page above the Random House number line 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3, with the ISBN string 394-54482-X appearing at the lower right of the rear jacket panel. The book is octavo, roughly 337 pages, quarter-bound in red cloth over paper-covered boards with the spine lettered in gilt. The first-state dust jacket reproduces Salvador Dali's 'The Phantom Cart' on the front panel and carries the author's photograph with the Mark Morrow photo credit at the lower left of the rear panel; the printed jacket price should be present. When present, the author's signature does not itself confer first-edition status, so verify the printed points as well.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House, 1985, is the true first edition; there is no earlier printing to precede it.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions and later printings reprint the text but are not the first edition and are far less collectible. Convention has been consistent since 1976, making Random House among the easiest American houses to authenticate. Use the points above to be certain — see book-club edition vs. first edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Blood Meridian signed first* by Cormac McCarthy a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/blood-meridian-signed-first
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.