# Is "Calico Joe" by John Grisham a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Calico Joe by John Grisham (Doubleday, 2012) is identified by: Doubleday first edition, published April 10, 2012 (ISBN 978-0-385-53607-3). The true first is the US Doubleday trade edition of 2012.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Doubleday first edition, published April 10, 2012 (ISBN 978-0-385-53607-3)
- The copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' and carries a complete number line descending to 1; later printings drop the 'First Edition' statement
- Jacket design by John Fontana; the first-issue dust jacket retains its printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Grisham |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 2012 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Doubleday first edition, published April 10, 2012 (ISBN 978-0-385-53607-3) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Doubleday first edition, published April 10, 2012 (ISBN 978-0-385-53607-3). The copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' and carries a complete number line descending to 1; later printings drop the 'First Edition' statement. Jacket design by John Fontana; the first-issue dust jacket retains its printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
The true first is the US Doubleday trade edition of 2012. A signed limited slipcased issue was also produced.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club, large-print (Doubleday Large Print Home Library, ISBN 978-1-61793-782-8), and later trade printings do not carry both the stated 'First Edition' line and the full number line ending in 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Calico Joe* by John Grisham a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/calico-joe
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.