# Is "Contact: A Novel" by Carl Sagan a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Contact: A Novel by Carl Sagan (Simon & Schuster, 1985) is identified by: Simon & Schuster first printing carries a full number line ending in 1 (Simon & Schuster convention) on the copyright page; the price is present on the front jacket flap. US true first, published by Simon & Schuster in 1985.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Simon & Schuster first printing carries a full number line ending in 1 (Simon & Schuster convention) on the copyright page; the price is present on the front jacket flap
- Sagan's only novel
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Carl Sagan |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Simon & Schuster first printing carries a full number line ending in 1 (Simon & Schuster… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Simon & Schuster first printing carries a full number line ending in 1 (Simon & Schuster convention) on the copyright page; the price is present on the front jacket flap. Sagan's only novel.

## Is this the true first?
US true first, published by Simon & Schuster in 1985.

## 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 *Contact: A Novel* by Carl Sagan a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/contact-a-novel
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.