# Is "Bullet Park" by John Cheever a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Bullet Park by John Cheever (Alfred A. Knopf, 1969) is identified by: Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with no additional printing line; the Borzoi colophon appears as Knopf's house device. US Knopf is the true first, preceding the UK Jonathan Cape edition, also 1969.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with no additional printing line; the Borzoi colophon appears as Knopf's house device
- Bound in maroon (burgundy) cloth over boards, the spine lettered in silver, the text block often showing an untrimmed/deckled fore-edge
- The first-issue pictorial dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap; a present, unclipped price is expected on an unsophisticated first-issue jacket
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Cheever |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1969 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with no additional printing line; the Borzoi colophon appears as Knopf's house device |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with no additional printing line; the Borzoi colophon appears as Knopf's house device. Bound in maroon (burgundy) cloth over boards, the spine lettered in silver, the text block often showing an untrimmed/deckled fore-edge. The first-issue pictorial dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap; a present, unclipped price is expected on an unsophisticated first-issue jacket.

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf is the true first, preceding the UK Jonathan Cape edition, also 1969.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue lacks the stated 'FIRST EDITION', is typically blind-stamped (small dot or square) on the rear board, is lighter and smaller in bulk, and comes in an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Bullet Park* by John Cheever a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/bullet-park
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.