# Is "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis (Alfred A. Knopf, 2000) is identified by: Knopf states 'First Edition' on the copyright page accompanied by the Borzoi colophon (Knopf house practice; no descending number line). US Alfred A.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Knopf states 'First Edition' on the copyright page accompanied by the Borzoi colophon (Knopf house practice; no descending number line)
- Issued in cloth-backed boards with a price-bearing first-state dust jacket
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Joseph J. Ellis |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 2000 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Knopf states 'First Edition' on the copyright page accompanied by the Borzoi colophon (Knopf house practice; no descending number line) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Knopf states 'First Edition' on the copyright page accompanied by the Borzoi colophon (Knopf house practice; no descending number line). Issued in cloth-backed boards with a price-bearing first-state dust jacket.

## Is this the true first?
US Alfred A. Knopf (New York), 2000, is the true first edition. Won the Pulitzer Prize for History, 2001.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions generally lack the 'First Edition' statement and the printed jacket price and are often smaller and lighter. Treat any specific blind-stamp claim with caution unless seen in hand.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation* by Joseph J. Ellis a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/founding-brothers-the-revolutionary-generation
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.