# Is "Ford County: Stories" by John Grisham a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Ford County: Stories by John Grisham (Doubleday, 2009) is identified by: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the full Doubleday number line reading 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (ending in the even numbers, lowest odd first). US Doubleday hardcover published November 3, 2009.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the full Doubleday number line reading 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (ending in the even numbers, lowest odd first)
- Spine is black with gilt, red, yellow and cream lettering; a frontispiece illustration of a winding path precedes the text
- Issued in a printed dust jacket with the original price on the front flap (present, not clipped)
- Grisham's first and only story collection
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Grisham |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 2009 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the full Doubleday number line reading… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the full Doubleday number line reading 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (ending in the even numbers, lowest odd first). Spine is black with gilt, red, yellow and cream lettering; a frontispiece illustration of a winding path precedes the text. Issued in a printed dust jacket with the original price on the front flap (present, not clipped). Grisham's first and only story collection.

## Is this the true first?
US Doubleday hardcover published November 3, 2009. A UK Century edition also appeared in 2009; precedence between the two is not firmly established, so US priority should not be assumed.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 'First Edition' statement and the number line no longer runs down to the low digits.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Ford County: Stories* by John Grisham a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/ford-county-stories
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.