# Is "Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science" by Carl Sagan a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science by Carl Sagan (Random House, 1979) is identified by: Random House first printing states 'First Edition' together with a number line beginning at 2 (2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9), the Random House first-printing marker; the price is present on the front jacket flap. US true first, published by Random House in 1979.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House first printing states 'First Edition' together with a number line beginning at 2 (2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9), the Random House first-printing marker; the price is present on the front jacket flap
- Essay collection, black cloth with gilt spine lettering
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Carl Sagan |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1979 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House first printing states 'First Edition' together with a number line beginning… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House first printing states 'First Edition' together with a number line beginning at 2 (2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9), the Random House first-printing marker; the price is present on the front jacket flap. Essay collection, black cloth with gilt spine lettering.

## Is this the true first?
US true first, published by Random House in 1979.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the jacket price and carry a rear-board blind-stamp.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science* by Carl Sagan a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/brocas-brain-reflections-on-the-romance-of-science
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.