# Is "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" by Roald Dahl a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl (Alfred A. Knopf, 1972) is identified by: Copyright page states 'First Edition'. US Knopf first (1972) precedes the UK Allen & Unwin edition (1973); the UK edition used different artwork by Faith Jaques.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states 'First Edition'
- Illustrated with black-and-white drawings by Joseph Schindelman; first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price
- Quarter blue cloth spine with paper-covered boards
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Roald Dahl |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1972 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | Copyright page states 'First Edition' |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition'. Illustrated with black-and-white drawings by Joseph Schindelman; first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price. Quarter blue cloth spine with paper-covered boards.

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf first (1972) precedes the UK Allen & Unwin edition (1973); the UK edition used different artwork by Faith Jaques. Sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and the printed jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator* by Roald Dahl a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/charlie-and-the-great-glass-elevator
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.